Just what they didn't need

摘要

ITALIANS USUALLY greet their periodic political crises with cynical resignation. But when, on January 13th, the ministers from Italia Viva, a splinter group led by Matteo Renzi, pulled out of Italy's left-populist government, stripping it of its parliamentary majority, the reaction of many was outrage. Polls suggest Mr Renzi's tiny party has the support of only about 3% of the electorate. Its leader's approval rating is among the lowest of any prominent Italian politician. By contrast, the prime minister, Giu- seppe Conte, has far and away the highest. But Italia Viva's senators are enough to make the difference in the upper house. Mr Renzi said his followers would not obstruct two urgent pending bills. It is clear, however, that Italy now faces yet another bout of political instability-and, this time, in the midst of a pandemic and just as it is about to submit to Brussels its plans for spending its share of the EU's recovery funds. "With 500 dead in the country today because of the coronavirus, Renzi can't find anything better to do than bring down the government on a whim," railed one irate Twitter user.