Italian PM battles for coalition’s survival over Covid recovery plan

Viva party's departure deprives Conte of majority, with crunch votes on Monday and Tuesday

Italy deserves a cohesive government", its prime minister, Giuseppe Conte, has said as he began the fight for his coalition's survival.

Conte told the lower house of parliament on Monday that the political crisis triggered last week by the former prime minister Matteo Renzi was unfounded" and risked severely damaging the country at a time when Italians were struggling with health and financial worries.