Italy's PM Conte confident on finalising talks over new government by Wednesday

FILE PHOTO: Democratic Party leader Nicola Zingaretti speaks to the media after consultations with Italian President Sergio Mattarella in the Presidential Palace in Rome, Italy, August 28, 2019. REUTERS/Ciro de Luca/File Photo

MILAN (Reuters) - Italy's prime minister said on Sunday he expected to finalise talks over a new government by Wednesday, as the 5-Star Movement and Democratic Party were in intense discussions during the weekend to hammer out a deal on a common agenda and Cabinet posts.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella gave Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte a mandate on Thursday to try to form a new coalition following Matteo Salvini's decision to pull his right-wing League from its 14-month-old alliance with 5-Star to seek early elections.