Five Star's leader rules out all-party coalition government in Italy

ROME, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The leader of the Five Star Movement (M5S) on Tuesday ruled out to form a coalition government involving all parties, following inconclusive elections in the country earlier this month.

"We do not consider any hypothesis of an institutional government, or all-party government," M5S leader Luigi Di Maio told reporters.

"By choosing the M5S, Italians in fact voted a candidate prime minister, a cabinet team, a political program, and the financial plan to cover that program," he added.

At parliamentary elections held on March 4, anti-establishment M5S was the most voted single party with over 32 percent, behind a center-right coalition at 37 percent altogether.

However, the vote resulted in a hung parliament, where neither the Five Star nor the center-right bloc would hold the necessary majority to govern alone.

A public debate over possible alliances among rival parties kicked off soon after the vote, and political talks brokered by the Italian president would begin after the parliament's first session on March 23. So far, there was no clear sign of a possible solution to the current gridlock.

Di Maio, 31, made clear he was ready to hold the prime minister office, as it was clearly proposed by his party in the campaign. The M5S was also "unwilling to deceive the popular mandate", and would not accept to take part in the next government if not by heading it.

Nonetheless, he appealed to the other parties to come forward and start a focused discussion with the M5S on specific measures and policies for the next government's agenda.

"We are ready to dialogue in order to bring the Five Star Movement into the government," Di Maio told reporters at the Foreign Press Association in the Italian capital.

In terms of stability of Italy's public finances and its future relationship with the European Union (EU), the leader of the populist movement used conciliatory tones.

"It must be very clear our measures on economy would always be devoted to (ensure) the stability of the country and the quality of life of Italians," Di Maio said.

He stressed the M5S was ready to outline its economic policy in the government "in dialogue with Brussels, and not against Brussels."

Yet, he suggested all EU member states would be ready to reconsider the limit of 3 percent imposed by Brussels on national deficit-to-GDP ratios.

"It seems to me that everyone at this point agrees that limit should be overcome or reviewed," Di Maio said. Enditem