Italian PM calls for 'strong German government' before visit

BERLIN –  Italian Premier Paolo Gentiloni says Europe needs “a strong German government” as he heads to Berlin for talks Friday with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Gentiloni told Munich-based daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung that Europe’s economic upswing mustn’t be endangered by hesitancy among center-left politicians when it comes to taking on government responsibility.

The Social Democrats, Germany’s counterpart to Gentiloni’s Democratic Party, have been wracked by a leadership dispute and internal opposition to a planned coalition with Merkel.

Gentiloni’s comments also come ahead of Italy’s parliamentary elections next month, in which the center-left is expected to lose votes to the right and the upstart 5-Star Movement.