Mario Draghi secures support from key parties to form new Italian government

Populist 5-Star Movement and rightwing League signal support for government of national unity

Mario Draghi on Saturday secured preliminary support from two key parties for forming a new government that will decide how to spend more than 200bn euros (175bn) in European Union funds to help relaunch Italy's pandemic-ravaged economy.

The populist 5-Star Movement and the rightwing League both signalled support for a Draghi-led government, saying they were ready to put aside bitter rivalries for the good of the country and increasing the potential for a broad-based government of national unity.