Merkel rules out relief for Italy, gives nod to Macron

Eurozone partnership 'helping others to help themselves'

Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has dismissed suggestions from Italy that the European Central Bank might write off 250 billion euros ($296 billion) of the country's debt.

The eurozone's third-largest economy has been struggling and March's general election saw the anti-establishment Five Star movement and rightwing party the League, both euroskeptic groupings, emerge as the biggest winners, but without being able to achieve a majority.