  Elections in Italy

The triumph of Eurosceptic parties, a controversial decision by the president, nervous financial markets, and all this against the backdrop of the Greek crisis. The political crisis in Rome prompts commentators to ask to what extent the problems are a result of EU and European structures.

After proposing a new candidate for the post of economy and finance minister, the protest Five Star Movement and the right-wing Lega Nord have paved the way for a joint government under law professor Giuseppe Conte. Europe's commentators continue to discuss whether the experiment in Rome can work.

The unclear political situation in Italy is making the stock markets nervous. Shares plummeted on Tuesday while the euro exchange rate dropped considerably. Speculation is rife among the financial market experts of Europe's media about whether Italy will trigger a new financial crisis and whether former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi can save the day.

A fierce discussion has broken out in Europe's media over Italian President Sergio Mattarella's decision to reject Paolo Savona as finance minister. Some argue that he has saved Italy from a crash on the financial markets. Others fear that he has only put wind in the sails of the ever-stronger populists.

Italian President Mattarella has charged pro-European economist Carlo Cottarelli with forming a transitional government. Prior to the move the government building process between Cinque Stelle and Lega Nord failed when President Sergio Mattarella vetoed the appointment of eurosceptic Paolo Savona as finance minister. What do the likely new elections portend?

Italy's President Sergio Mattarella has tasked Giuseppe Conte, a jurist with little experience in politics, with forming a government, freeing the way for the future prime minister to form a cabinet made up of ministers from anti-EU parties the Five Star Movement and the Northern League. Commentators speculate on the impact of this decision for Europe.

The process of forming a new government in Italy continues. While the right-wing nationalist Lega Nord and the Five Star protest movement have made it known that they have agreed on a government programme, they failed to propose a prime minister on Monday. Instead they asked President Sergio Mattarella for more time. This provokes much head-shaking among commentators.

Two months after the elections in Italy the attempts to form a government have failed. None of the parties can rule alone and none are willing to make compromises. President Mattarella has proposed the formation of a "neutral government" until new elections can be held, but Lega leader Matteo Salvini and the chairman of the Five Star Movement Luigi Di Maio have rejected the idea. Commentators voice their outrage - and their concerns.

Six weeks after the parliamentary elections there is still no sign of a new government in Italy. Talks led by the speaker of the Senate, Elisabetta Casellati, also seem likely to end without any results today, Friday. The main sticking point is that the Movimento Cinque Stelle is only willing to form a coalition with the Lega Nord if the latter ends its alliance with Silvio Berlusconi and his Forza Italia party. What will become of the voters' hopes of a fresh start?

Roughly a month after the elections in Italy the first round of talks on the formation of a new government has ended without a result. Election winner Luigi Di Maio, the leader of the Movimento 5 Stelle, wants to form a coalition with the Lega Nord provided the party breaks its ties with its original alliance partner Silvio Berlusconi. Commentators are having a hard time imagining an Italy under Di Maio's leadership.

Not three weeks after Italy's elections there are signs that the strongest parties have agreed on the distribution of key posts. Movimento 5 Stelle is to preside the Chamber of Deputies, while the centre-right alliance led by Lega Nord will chair the Senate. There are also growing indications of a governing coalition between the two camps. For commentators an unholy alliance.

It was a vote of protest: in Italy's parliamentary elections one in two voters cast their ballot for parties that challenge the current political system - including populist and far-right groups. One week later journalists are still trying to explain the results and draw conclusions for the future.

Roughly half of Italy's voters cast their ballots for anti-system parties. But neither the Movimento 5 Stelle nor the alliance consisting of three right-wing conservative parties and the Lega Nord - which had a particularly strong showing - has gained a governing majority. Commentators outline the challenges that lie ahead for Italy and the EU.