Addis Ababa, January 26, 2021 (FBC) -Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has resigned – and it is not clear if he will be able to form and lead a new coalition government.
He has been criticised for his handling of the coronavirus crisis, in which more than 85,000 Italians have died.
Conte met President Sergio Mattarella, who may ask him to form a stronger government. Last week he lost his Senate majority.
But someone else could become Italy’s PM, or a snap election could be called.
The law professor, who has headed two coalition governments since 2018, tendered his resignation to President Mattarella.
And now Conte is discussing the political crisis with Senate president Elisabetta Casellati.
Conte survived a vote of confidence in the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, last week. He then won a Senate vote, but without an absolute majority.
The lack of a majority threatens to stymie government action – hence the political shake-up, according to BBC.