Italy's Di Maio says 5-Star is ready for elections

Italian Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Thursday his 5-Star Movement did not fear fresh elections, after its coalition partner, the right-wing League, announced the government had broken down and said elections were needed.

"We are ready, we don't care in the least about occupying government posts and we never have," Di Maio said in a statement.

Di Maio accused League Leader Matteo Salvini, who is riding high in opinion polls, of "taking the country for a ride" and said sooner or later Italians would turn against him for it.