Italy's centre-left dealt blow as centrist party quits electoral pact

FILE PHOTO: Italian Minister of Economic Development Carlo Calenda talks during the presentation of +Europa party's election programme in Rome, Italy, February 3, 2018. REUTERS/Max Rossi/File Photo

ROME (Reuters) -The leader of Italy's centrist Azione party said on Sunday it would leave a centre-left election alliance it formed with the Democratic Party (PD) last week, dealing a blow to the coalition's odds ahead of a Sept. 25 ballot.

The Green leftist federation and centrist party Impegno Civico had only the day before agreed to join the PD-led bloc, a move that was seen as strengthening a centre-left already lagging behind conservative rivals.