Italy Trades One Bizarre Government for Another

Politics often makes for strange bedfellows, but rarely have we seen a sleepover as peculiar as what happened in Italy this week. The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) and the mainstream center-left Democratic Party (PD) have agreed to form a governing coalition. If they can get parliament to support their cabinet choices, it would end the recent uncertainty around who, exactly, is running the third largest economy in the eurozone. But will the new government be any more stable or functional than the last?

The backstory: Three weeks ago, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini pulled his populist rightwing Lega party out of a coalition government with M5S. Their coalition had been a bizarre and fragile alliance from the start, a tie-up of two populist parties with vastly different ideas of how to govern. By ditching that coalition earlier this month, Salvini — no stranger to unabashed risk taking — hoped to capitalize on his high approval ratings by triggering snap elections that he thought he could win outright. His plan has backfired badly – for now.

Some hope for the eurozone: After 14-months of feuding between the Lega-M5S alliance and Brussels over Rome's ballooning deficit (the country's debt to GDP ratio is expected to rise to 135% by 2020) EU leaders may welcome this new government. After all, the mainstream PD is likely to temper M5S's spendthrift populist instincts.

How tenable is the new coalition? Until just a few days ago, M5S and PD were sworn political nemeses. Now they will run Italy together. But if the only glue that holds them together is their mutual disdain for Salvini, it may quickly become difficult to govern. In principle their coalition could last until 2023, but fissures are likely to open well before that.

What's next for Salvini? His Lega party is still the most popular party in Italy, a fact that he will make much of as an opposition leader, railing against the government. And being out of power will enable him to avoid the taint of the upcoming fiscal negotiations, while also positioning himself to capitalize on any missteps or crackups in the bizarre new coalition.

Takeaway: Italy is going from one unwieldy and politically-unnatural coalition government to another. Will this enemy-of-my-enemy government be able to deliver, or will it fail in a way that elevates their enemy after all? Watch this space!

More from GZERO Media

- YouTube

Fifty years after the fall of Saigon (or its liberation, depending on whom you ask), Vietnam has transformed from a war-torn battleground to one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies—and now finds itself caught between two superpowers. Ian Bremmer breaks down how Vietnam went from devastation in the wake of the Vietnam War to becoming a regional economic powerhouse.

Eurasia Group and GZERO Media are seeking a highly creative, detail-oriented Graphic and Animation Designer who lives and breathes news, international affairs, and policy. The ideal candidate has demonstrated experience using visual storytelling—including data visualizations and short-form animations—to make complex geopolitical topics accessible, social-friendly, and engaging across platforms. You will join a dynamic team of researchers, editors, video producers, and writers to elevate our storytelling and thought leadership through innovative multimedia content.

The body of Pope Francis in the coffin exposed in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on April 24, 2025. The funeral will be celebrated on Saturday in St. Peter's Square.
Pasquale Gargano/KONTROLAB/ipa-agency.net/IPA/Sipa USA

While the Catholic world prepares for the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday – the service begins at 10 a.m. local time, 4 a.m. ET – certain high-profile attendees may also have other things on their mind. Several world leaders will be on hand to pay their respects to the pontiff, but they could also find themselves involved in bilateral talks.

A Ukrainian rescue worker sits atop the rubble of a destroyed residential building during rescue operations, following a Russian missile strike on a residential apartment building block in Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 24, 2025.
Photo by Justin Yau/ Sipa USA
Members of the M23 rebel group stand guard at the opening ceremony of Caisse Generale d'epargne du Congo (CADECO) which will serve as the bank for the city of Goma where all banks have closed since the city was taken by the M23 rebels, in Goma, North Kivu province in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo, April 7, 2025.
REUTERS/Arlette Bashizi

The Democratic Republic of the Congo and an alliance of militias led by the notorious M23 rebels announced a ceasefire on Thursday after talks in Qatar and, after three years of violence, said they would work toward a permanent truce.

Students shout slogans and burn an effigy to protest the Pahalgam terror attack in Guwahati, Assam, India, on April 24, 2025. On April 22, a devastating terrorist attack occurs in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of at least 28 tourists.
Photo by David Talukdar/NurPhoto

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has blamed Pakistan for Tuesday’s deadly terrorist attack in Kashmir, and he’s takenaggressive action against its government.

- YouTube

“When things are going fine, nobody really tests the skills and talents of their financial advisor, but this is a moment where really good advice can be extraordinarily powerful,” says Margaret Franklin, CFA Institute's CEO and President. In conversation with GZERO’s Tony Maciulis, Franklin describes the current financial climate as “maximum uncertainty,” rating it a 10 out of 10 on the risk scale.

President Donald Trump at a bilateral meeting with China's President Xi Jinping during the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 29, 2019.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo

On Wednesday, Donald Trump said he would deliver a “fair deal” with China and that he’d be “very nice” to the country after meeting with major retailers. But Beijing denies that there are any ongoing talks and has told the US it must cancel its unilateral tariffs before China will broker any negotiations.