NPR

After Italy's Election, 2 Rival Populist Parties Claim Right To Lead Next Government

The success of the 5-Star Movement and the right-wing League in Sunday's election is the worst blow to the European Union since British voters chose to leave the EU two years ago.
Italian far-right League party leader Matteo Salvini gives the thumbs-up in Milan on Monday. Salvini said his right-wing coalition had the "right and the duty" to form a government after taking 37 percent of the vote in the weekend election.

The Italian political world has been struck by a populist tsunami — 50 percent of voters in Sunday's parliamentary elections chose candidates from anti-establishment, anti-immigrant and euroskeptic parties. However, no party amassed enough votes to form a government on its own, and this makes weeks of political instability likely while government negotiations are underway.

"Italy ungovernable," read a Monday headline in the daily La Stampa.

The Italian populist parties' success is the worst blow to the European Union since British voters chose to leave the EU two years ago.

The two big winners in Sunday's vote are now vying for control of Italy's next government:

  • tripled its

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