As a result of Italy's inconclusive election the leaders of rival parties now have to envisage working together or face another ballot
ADVERTISEMENTItaly's two rival populist parties are preparing for talks in earnest over forming the country's next government.
The election result has revealed a clear divide between North and South but the issue now is to forge a coalition for the next parliament.
With the absolute majority in the Lower Chamber being 316 seats, many analysts favour two options, at least numerically.
The Five-Star Movement could team up with the Democratic Party, which would see them have 337 seats in the house. Alternatively, Five Star could form a tie with the anti-immigrant League party for a 100 percent populist government.
Euronews spoke to Limes magazine's political analyst, Alessandro Sansoni, about the possible scenarios: "At first, the centre-right coalition will probably be invited to form a government, perhaps not with Matteo Salvini as prime minister, but with another centre-right figure who will then seek a majority."
"Matteo Renzi is trying to aggravate the situation within the Democratic Party in order to stop any possible deal in respect to a potential Five-Star/Democratic Party coalition as favoured by some elements wihtin his faction," explained Sansoni.
The very last alternative is a government of national unity guaranteed by the Head of State, Sergio Mattarella, or a government just to rewrite the electoral law and go to early elections.
The first confrontation in parliament will be the election of leaders of the Lower Chamber and Senate, which could already indicate a who's ready to deal with whom.