Italian President Sergio Mattarella met with political leaders on Thursday as post-election talks to form a government continue.
According to protocol, the talks began with the new president of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa. His Brothers of Italy party, which won the most seats in Parliament in September’s elections, will dominate the right-wing coalition expected to take the reins of power in the coming days, after formal consultations with the president have ended.
The meeting was followed by one with the speaker of the lower house of Parliament, Lorenzo Fontana, a key figure in the anti-immigration League party led by Matteo Salvini. She lost ground in the elections, but will be part of the government, which also includes Berlusconi’s Forza Italia.
But all eyes are on Giorgia Meloni, who will meet with Mattarella on Friday before she is confirmed prime minister.
She led the Brothers of Italy to victory, but will face the challenge of keeping the coalition together, where some friction has been noted.