D-day for Italy talks on new government

Italy faces further fraught negotiations Wednesday to form a new government or risk fresh elections in the eurozone’s third-largest economy.

President Sergio Mattarella is to meet the main political parties at the climax of what Italian newspapers have dubbed “the craziest crisis ever” after the government collapsed earlier this month while parliament was on holiday.

The anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) and the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) have been trying to create a new workable coalition, despite having been bitter enemies until just a few weeks ago.