Italian lawmakers creating new faction amid rift over arming Kiev
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Italy is facing a domestic political problem, and Parliament could be divided even further over the Ukraine war and Rome's armament of Kiev.
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Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio
Supporters of Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, who used to chair the ruling Five Star Movement (M5S) have started collecting signatures in both houses of Parliament on Tuesday, Italian broadcaster RaiNews24 reported.
The supporters of the country's top diplomat are gathering signatures in a bid to establish more blocs in parliament amid disagreements over further arms supplies to Kiev.
Establishing a new group in parliament requires the consent of at least 20 lawmakers in the lower house and at least 10 lawmakers in the upper house.
Di Maio's supporters may be able to create such groups in both houses, meaning the minister and his close associates would de facto leave the M5S.
The parties involved in the matter are planning on calling their new group "Insieme per il futuro", which means "Together for the Future" in Italian, local newspaper Il Foglio reported.
Media reported on Sunday that the M5S appeared to be split over whether to continue sending weaponry to Ukraine, with the Italian upper house heading into a shutdown this week.
The parliament was leaning toward voting on an M5S resolution, proposed by leader Giuseppe Conte on Tuesday that recommended ending Rome's arms deliveries to Kiev to avert any damage that could be done to the prospect of peace.
The proposal put Conte on a collision course with Di Maio, who accused his own party on Sunday of immaturity and undermining national security, La Repubblica daily said.
The criticism reportedly provoked a response from M5S vice-presidents Riccardo Ricciardi and Michele Gubitosa, who hinted at their desire that Di Maio leaves the party.
Throughout the last two days, there have been several meetings between the representatives of all parties in Rome in a bid to reach a consensus on a parliamentary resolution regarding Ukraine.
Parliament had adopted in March a resolution that granted Prime Minister Mario Draghi the authority to provide comprehensive support to Ukraine, which includes sending arms to Kiev.
Draghi, alongside the leaders of France and Germany, headed to Kiev by train overnight Wednesday, seeking to voice their support for Ukraine.
The three leaders met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and reaffirmed their support for Kiev.
