Italy's Di Maio Proposes Law Professor Conte For Premiership

(Bloomberg) -- Luigi Di Maio, leader of Italy’s anti-establishment Five Star Movement, said he had proposed Giuseppe Conte, a Florence law professor with no political experience, as candidate for the premiership to President Sergio Mattarella.

Hailing what he called “a historic moment,” Di Maio told reporters just after meeting the head of state: “We gave the president the name of the person who can carry forward the contract for government.”

Shortly afterwards, Di Maio said on Five Star’s blog that he had indicated Conte, 53, as a candidate to Mattarella. If confirmed, Conte will have to manage a fractious coalition of Di Maio and Matteo Salvini, of the anti-immigrant League. The two populist parties agreed to a government program but have a razor-thin majority in the Senate.

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.