The former Italian leader claimed Matteo Salvini could win an election outright if the budget row with the European Union resulted in an early 2019 vote. Mr Letta argued this would be the worst case scenario for Europe as an unstable Italy could cause huge consequences in the rest of the Brussels bloc too.
He told France24: “The worst case scenario for what I think is a backlash, crisis and an election in Italy early next year.
“That scenario, which is not impossible, is the worst scenario.
“Because a new election will bring in this situation the political cleavage in the electoral campaign of Europe or no Europe.
“And I think we have to avoid an electoral campaign based on this kind of scenario.
“And because all forecasts are saying that Mr Salvini could win the elections, and I don’t like Mr Salvini’s positions.
“I hope the Italian political landscape can change but not in that situation.
“And I’m sure that a big country like Italy can bring big instability at the European level.”
Italy and the European Commission (EC) have been at loggerheads in recent weeks after EU chiefs claimed the Italian eurosceptic Government’s budget breaches previous spending agreements and later rejecting the plans altogether.
After weeks of unresolved clashes, Mr Salvini today hinted Italy could be set to budge on the nation’s spending plans after all, despite leading figures from the populist government previously refusing to change a single zero on their financial statement.
Speaking to newswire AdnKronos today, Mr Salvini hinted the standoff between the two sides could soon subside as he declared the deficit target, which is currently set at 2.4 percent for next year, could be moved.
He said: “I think nobody is fixated on this, if there is a budget which makes the country grow, it could be 2.2 percent or 2.6 percent.
“The problem is not about decimal points, it’s a question of seriousness and being concrete.”
Mr Salvini is braced for a meeting with Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Finance Minister Giovanni Tria and fellow deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio today to discuss the budget.
Fellow deputy Mr Di Maio struck a similar chord today as he claimed the government is open to a conversation with the EU about the deficit target.