Italy’s new government collapses before even getting started

ITALY’s governmental crisis was already the longest since the foundation of the republic after the second world war. It has now become a constitutional crisis, with implications for the entire European Union. As the leader of its biggest party called for President Sergio Mattarella to be impeached for refusing to install western Europe’s first all-populist government, Italy appeared to be heading for fresh elections at which anti-establishment parties were expected to increase their parliamentary majority.