Italy president appoints new mediator to sound out chances of 5-Star/PD government

FILE PHOTO - Italian President Sergio Mattarella meets new elected Chamber of Deputies president Roberto Fico at the Quirinale Palace in Rome, Italy March 24, 2018. Italian Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's president on Monday asked the head of the lower house of parliament to see whether the 5-Star Movement and centre-left Democratic Party (PD) could form a coalition government but initial reaction pointed to a mission impossible.

President Sergio Mattarella, who is struggling to end seven weeks of political deadlock following inconclusive elections last month, asked the lower house speaker Roberto Fico to report back to him on Thursday with his findings.