Italy's Di Maio resigns as head of 5-Star Movement

Luigi Di Maio stepped down on Wednesday as leader of Italy's co-ruling 5-Star Movement. Di Maio said Vito Crimi, the head of 5-Star's internal rules committee, would take over as caretaker until a new leader is chosen following a party congress to be held in the coming months.

The decision by Di Maio, who is expected to remain as foreign minister, comes days before a regional election in Emilia Romagna in which the right-wing League is threatening to end 75 years of uninterrupted PD rule. That outcome could put the government's survival at risk.