ROME, June 30 (KUNA) -- Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi returned on Thursday to Rome from the NATO summit in Madrid early amid soaring tension with the ruling coalition.
This came in a press release, saying that Minister of Defense Lorenzo Guerini will represent Italy in the NATO summit that concludes on Thursday.
This sudden return comes amidst report saying that the PM tried to get his predecessor Giuseppe Conte dumped from the 5-Star Movement (M5S) helm, but his office denied those reports.
Conte reacted with fury at reports that Draghi had contacted M5S founder Beppe Grillo to have Conte removed from the helm of the movement.
The premier's office denied that Draghi had sought to have Conte ousted and said the reason for his early return from Madrid was in order to prepare for a cabinet meeting on Thursday. (end) mn.bb