Italy’s Interior Minister and Leader of the League Party, Matteo Salvini has called for a protest against the formation of Italy’s new coalition government. Salvini, who triggered a government crisis, has been pushing for a return to the polls.

What Happened?

Italy is on the verge of forming a new coalition government made up of the Democratic Party and Five Star Movement. The latter, along with Salvini’s League Party, formed a coalition government from June 2018 to August 2019, when Salvini pulled the plug on the marriage.

Critics have accused Salvini of triggering a political crisis for his own personal gain where he hoped to trigger fresh elections to capitalise on his surging popularity as a way to win more seats in parliament–– a gamble that did not go his way. Political foes, Five Star and the Democratic party agreed to form a coalition, effectively ousting Salvini from the government.

Fighting Back

Salvini has chosen not to back down, at least not without a fight, as he has now taken to social media to denounce the coalition government and call for a demonstration in Rome on October 19th.

He also accused Brussels and Berlin of scheming to oust his League Party, claiming it is not the will of the people while likening the event to a “robbery of democracy.”

“From north to south, from the silent majority…a day of mobilisation for those who don’t want a government born overnight in Brussels…I’m not angry because of my own personal interests, I’m angry because a robbery of democracy is underway,” he said on his Facebook page.

Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who leads the Forza Italia party, has also criticized the new coalition, calling it a “dangerous scenario” and “politically wrong,” the Express notes.

Many have predicted that the new coalition will fail, but if they manage to form a stable government, they could stay in power till 2023, when fresh elections are scheduled to hold.