Italy’s former 5-Star leader Di Maio unveils new party ahead of election

ROME

Ahead of Sept. 25 elections in Italy, former 5-Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio on Monday unveiled his new political party, which will be a key player within the center-left coalition.

The new political force, named Civic Commitment, includes the centrist party led by Bruno Tabacci and many dissidents who left the 5-Star Movement after it contributed to the collapse of Mario Draghi’s government last month.

The center-right coalition, which includes the far-right party Brothers of Italy led by Giorgia Meloni, leads in the polls ahead of elections, while the center-left front is struggling to seal a wide-enough alliance able to stop the right’s rise.

“We can address the country’s priorities only with unity, not with divisions, that’s the only way to overcome this historic moment,” Di Maio, who is currently acting foreign minister, said.

“A victory of the extremists would isolate us from the rest of Europe. The reformist front has to be united, and we’ll do our best,” he added.

Di Maio left the 5-Star Movement last month, in open dissent with current leader Giuseppe Conte.

His alliance with the center-left Democratic Party (PD), however, could further ignite divisions within the leftist front.

Carlo Calenda, leader of the centrist Action party – which now polls at around 5% – has told PD leader Enrico Letta that he is unwilling to be part of the same coalition that also features former members of the 5-Star Movement.