ROMAN –
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi resigned on Thursday after key coalition allies boycotted a confidence vote, signaling the possibility of an early election and a new period of uncertainty for Italy and Europe. at a crucial moment.
Draghi submitted his resignation to President Sergio Mattarella during a morning meeting at the Quirinale Palace. Mattarella, who turned down a similar offer of resignation last week, “takes note” of this and asks Draghi’s government to continue operating in a caretaker manner, the president’s office said.
Draghi’s national unity government erupted on Wednesday after members of his uneasy right-wing, left-wing and populist coalition rejected his call to jointly end his term in office. legislation and ensure the implementation of a pandemic recovery program funded by the European Union.
Instead, the centre-right parties of Forza Italia and the populist Five Star League and Movement boycotted a vote of confidence in the Senate, a clear sign they have taken to the government. Draghi’s 17 months.
Draghi told the House of Commons before going to meet Mattarella. Clearly moved by the applause, he repeated a statement that even central bankers must have memorized.
Italian newspapers on Thursday united in their outrage at the surreal results, as Italy is dealing with inflation and soaring energy costs, Russia’s war against Ukraine and reforms outstanding way needed to collect the rest of the 200 billion euros in EU recovery funds.
“Shame,” La Stampa headlined the front page. “Italy is betrayed,” La Repubblica said. Corriere della Sera said: “Farewell to Draghi’s Government.
Mattarella criticized the former European Central Bank chief – who has been called “Super Mario” for bailing out the euro “whatever it takes” – for pulling Italy out of last year’s pandemic and laying the groundwork for capitalize on the recovery of EU funds.
But the 5 Stars, who got the largest number of votes in the 2018 national election, have said for months that their priorities over basic income and minimum wage, among other things, have been dropped. via. Last week, the 5-Stars boycotted a confidence vote tied to a bill aimed at helping Italians endure the crisis, prompting Draghi to offer his resignation for the first time.
Mattarella later rejected the offer and asked Draghi to return to Parliament to brief lawmakers on the situation. He did it on Wednesday to urge party leaders to listen to calls for unity from ordinary Italians, who signed a petition asking him to stay.
“You don’t have to give me an answer. You have to give it to all Italians,” he told lawmakers.
While the next steps are unclear, the results suggest that Mattarella could dissolve Parliament after a period of consultations, paving the way for an early election in late September or early October. The legislature will expire in 2023.
His office said Mattarella would meet the presidents of the upper and lower chambers of Congress late Thursday. Such consultations often precede a public statement by Mattarella of his intentions.
Opinion polls have shown the share ratios for the centre-left Democratic Party and the right-wing Brotherhood of Italy, which remain in opposition to Draghi’s coalition.
Democratic leader Enrico Letta was outraged by the result, saying Congress had betrayed Italy and urged Italians to react at the polls. “Let the Italians show at the ballot that they are smarter than their representatives,” he tweeted.
The Italian brothers have long allied with the centre-right Forza Italia of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and the League of Matteo Salvini, suggesting that a centre-right coalition is likely to prevail in any election and boost the government. Brotherhood leader Giorgia Meloni becomes the first Female Prime Minister of Italy.
Meloni, who had opened fire for an early election before the crisis broke, won.
“The will of the people is expressed in one way: by voting. Give Italy hope and strength,” she said.
