Mario Draghi, the Premier of Italy, resigned on Thursday after important coalition members abstained from a vote of confidence, raising the possibility of an early election and reigniting uncertainty for Italy and Europe at a crucial juncture.
During a morning meeting at the Quirinale Palace, Draghi presented President Sergio Mattarella with his letter of resignation. According to the president’s office, Mattarella, who turned down a similar resignation offer, last week, “took note” this time and requested that Draghi’s administration continue in an acting capacity.
Draghi’s uneasy coalition of the right left, and populists rejected his appeal to come back together to complete the legislative term and ensure the implementation of the pandemic recovery program, which was funded by the European Union. As a result, Draghi’s government of national unity collapsed on Wednesday.
Instead, the populist 5-Star Movement, the League, and the center-right Forza Italia parties boycotted a Senate vote on a motion of confidence, making it very apparent they were fed up with Draghi’s 17-month administration.
Before going to see Mattarella, Draghi addressed the lower Chamber of Deputies and thanked them for their cooperation throughout this time. He reiterated the remark that even the heads of central banks had hearts, obviously moved by the applause.
Italian media on Thursday expressed a common fury at the absurd decision, given that Italy is grappling with high inflation, rising energy prices, Russia’s conflict with Ukraine, and unfinished reforms required to get the remaining 200 billion euros in EU recovery funding.
La Stampa’s top page included the word “Shame.” La Repubblica proclaimed, “Italy Betrayed.” Farewell to Draghi’s Administration, Corriere Della Sera proclaimed.
The former head of the European Central Bank, dubbed “Super Mario” for his “whatever it takes” rescue of the euro, was chosen by Mattarella to help Italy through the pandemic last year and create the framework for utilizing the EU’s recovery funds.
However, the 5-Stars, who received the largest number of votes in the 2018 presidential election, had been irate for months that their priorities—a basic income and a minimum wage, among other things—were being disregarded. Draghi originally offered to retire last week after the 5-Stars boycotted a confidence vote connected to a package intended to aid Italians in weathering the crisis.
Draghi was then requested to come to Parliament to update MPs on the situation after Mattarella rejected the initial offer. On Wednesday, he did that by pleading with party leaders to pay attention to the appeals for cooperation from common Italians who signed petitions urging him to continue.
“You are not required to respond to my question. All Italians must receive it, he said the parliamentarians.
The results indicated Mattarella may dissolve Parliament after a period of consultations, opening the door for an early election as early as late September or early October, though the following steps were uncertain. The five-year tenure of the legislature was set to end in 2023.
Later on Thursday, according to his office, Mattarella was scheduled to meet with the leaders of the upper and lower chambers of Parliament. Such discussions typically come before Mattarella makes his intentions known to the public.
The center-left Democratic Party and the right-wing Brothers of Italy party, who had continued to oppose Draghi’s coalition, have nearly identical percentages, according to opinion polls.
Enrico Letta, the head of the Democrats, expressed his outrage over the outcome, claiming that Parliament had forsaken Italy, and he urged Italians to cast their votes. He tweeted, “Let Italians demonstrate at the polls that they are smarter than their MPs.”
The Brothers of Italy have a history of working together with the League of Matteo Salvini and the center-right Forza Italia of ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi. This suggests that a center-right coalition would likely win any election and help the Brothers’ leader Giorgia Meloni become Italy’s first female premier.
Since before the crisis began Meloni has been pushing for an early election and he was successful.
Voting is the only means for people to express their will. Let’s restore Italy’s courage and hope, she said.
