Populists campaign in Sicily after forming Italy government

By: The Associated Press

Sunday, June 3, 2018 8:45 AM

ROME (AP) Days after taking office, the two pillars of Italy's first populist government are already campaigning.

Matteo Salvini and Luigi Di Maio, the leaders of the right-wing League and euroskeptic 5-Star Movement, respectively, were in Sicily on Sunday, a week before municipal elections on the island region.

They want to capitalize on the momentum of their coalition taking national office on Friday. However, with each man emphasizing different priorities, there are doubts if the new government will last a full 5-year term.

The 5-Star Movement is Parliament's largest party thanks to support from southern Italy, where voters in the March election liked Di Maio's promise of a minimum income for the unemployed.

The north-based League stokes fears about migrants, who have arrived in huge numbers to Sicily. Salvini vows to expel them.

Populists campaign in Sicily after forming Italy government

Italian vice Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Matteo Salvini delivers a speech to support the candidate of center-right coalition in local elections, in Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 3, 2018. Matteo Salvini and Luigi Di Maio, whose right-wing League and euro-skeptic 5-Star Movement, respectively, are the coalition leaders, were spending Sunday in Sicily, a week before municipal elections there. (Orietta Scardino/ANSA via AP)

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Luigi Di Maio speaks during a rally originally called to protest against Italian president Sergio Mattarella and then turned into a celebration for the birth of the new government, in Rome Saturday, June 2, 2018. (Alessandro Di Meo/ANSA via AP)

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Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte is cheered by citizens on the occasion of the celebrations for Italy's Republic Day, in Rome Saturday, June 2, 2018. At an oath-taking ceremony in the presidential palace atop Quirinal Hill, the new premier, political novice Giuseppe Conte, and his 18 Cabinet ministers pledged their loyalty to the Italian republic and to the nation's post-war constitution in front of President Sergio Mattarella. (Fabio Frustaci/ANSA via AP)

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Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte, 3rd from left, is flanked by, from left, Senate President Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, President of the Lower Chamber Roberto Fico and Italian President Sergio Mattarella, right, during celebrations for Italy's Republic Day, in Rome Saturday, June 2, 2018. At an oath-taking ceremony in the presidential palace atop Quirinal Hill, the new premier, political novice Giuseppe Conte, and his 18 Cabinet ministers pledged their loyalty to the Italian republic and to the nation's post-war constitution in front of President Sergio Mattarella. (Angelo Carconi/ANSA via AP)

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