Italy's League mulls new elections to break govt deadlock

Tensions are rising in Italy’s government, with Interior Minister Matteo Salvini’s League saying that new elections are the only alternative to the current governing coalition with the 5-Star Movement.

The League on Thursday complained of deadlock on a variety of issues, including a vote in parliament over the future of an EU-funded high-speed rail link between Turin and the French city of Lyon. The statement said “it is useless to go on,” adding that “the only alternative to this government is to give the word back to Italians with new elections.”

The 5-Star Movement, which opposes the high-speed train link as too costly and unnecessary, replied that the League’s note was “not comprehensible,” and asked the party to clearly state what it wants.