ITALY - Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced his resignation Tuesday, setting the country on an uncertain political course that could lead to a snap election or a new governing alliance. Conte’s move preempted a confidence vote that had been expected to take place 12 days after Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League party and Italy's interior minister, called for such a motion. Before announcing his resignation, Conte held a one-hour speech critical of Salvini, noting that the minister's decision to end the coalition government with the populist 5Stars Movement "has major consequences for the country and its economy." ...Hitting back at Conte's comments, Salvini said he would “do everything all over again” and defended his use of religion in political campaigns, which the prime minister had criticized. “I will always invoke the Virgin Mary to guide me,” he said.