‘Italian Prime Minister Draghi resigns’ | Abroad

Last week, Draghi had already tendered his resignation due to confidence problems. That was then refused by President Sergio Mattarella. Draghi had to try to save his government of national unity, the order was.

Last week it was one coalition partner who refused to express confidence. This Wednesday, three ruling parties boycotted the vote. With the departure of Draghi, who took office in February last year, Italy is once again in the midst of a political crisis and early elections are likely, observers report.

Draghi had said earlier on Wednesday that he is willing to remain as prime minister, but only if there is unity within the coalition and confidence is restored. Last week he wanted to resign because the coalition partner the Five Star Movement refused to participate in a vote on billions in aid measures. Draghi then stated that a trust pact had been broken.

Restore Pact

“Are the parties and your parliamentarians ready to restore this pact?” Draghi asked in his speech to the upper house of parliament. He added that this is what the Italian people are demanding. Mayors, trade union leaders and employers’ organizations have massively called on the former president of the European Central Bank to stay on as head of government.

Draghi has enough support to continue to rule without the Five Star Movement. He declined that option because he was initially tasked with leading a coalition with parties from across the political spectrum. Not only the Five Star Movement did not vote on Wednesday, but also the right-wing parties that are part of the coalition, Lega and Forza Italia. These two parties only want to remain in government without the Five Star Movement, a demand Draghi previously ruled out.

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