Italian President Sergio Mattarella has given outgoing Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte a mandate to form a new government comprising the ruling 5-Star Movement and opposition Democratic Party (PD), a presidential official said.
Mr Conte resigned last week after the far-right League party withdrew from its coalition with the 5-Star, forcing Mr Mattarella to hold consultations with all Italy's main political parties to try to find a way out of the political chaos.
Both 5-Star and the PD told the president yesterday they were willing to lay aside their long-standing animosity and try to form an administration with Mr Conte, an academic considered close to 5-Star, at the helm.
Mr Conte said he had accepted a mandate from the head of state to try to put together a new government, adding that he hoped to draw up a list of ministers in the coming days.
Speaking to reporters after receiving a green light from the president to form a coalition, Mr Conte said the new administration would have to work immediately on drawing up a budget and preventing a looming hike of sales taxes.
"In the coming days I will return to the president of the republic ... and submit my proposals for ministers," he said.
Mr Conte resigned last week after the far-right League party withdrew from its coalition with 5-Star. However, the opposition Democratic Party has stepped into the breach and said it will hook up with 5-Star under the leadership of Mr Conte.
