Italy in turmoil as PM yet to name govt

ROME: Italy saw no end in sight to its political turmoil Tuesday as the caretaker prime minister ended talks on forming a government without unveiling his cabinet line-up, following the collapse of a populist coalition´s bid to govern.

Carlo Cottarelli had promised to deliver the list "as soon as possible" in a bid to end the chaos that has raised fears for the stability of eurozone. But the economist discreetly left the presidential palace after a brief meeting with President Sergio Mattarella on Tuesday afternoon without making any statement. Shortly afterwards Giovanni Grasso, a spokesman for the president said Cottarelli "has informed the head of state of the situation and... both will meet again tomorrow morning."

Mattarella on Sunday blocked a cabinet proposed by the anti-immigrant League and their allies in the Five Star Movement (M5S). Mattarella vetoed the League-Five Star pick for economy minister, eurosceptic Paolo Savona. The populists cried foul and abandoned their joint bid for power. That left Cottarelli, a former IMF economist known as "Mr Scissors", tasked with naming a technocrat government.

Five Star and the League, who hold a majority in both houses of parliament, have vowed to reject Cottarelli´s proposed technocrat government. New elections are now considered the most likely outcome of the political saga, sparked by an inconclusive poll in March. On Tuesday Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio called for a return to the polls "as soon as possible". Italian media said the elections could be scheduled for as early as July.