Mario Draghi appears to resign as prime minister of Italy on Wednesday evening. Three coalition parties have indicated that they will not be present at a new confidence vote later in the evening. Draghi said in advance that he would only stay on if all coalition parties supported him.
Last week, the 74-year-old prime minister announced his resignation. The reason for this was the absence of the Five Star Movement in a vote on a multi-billion dollar package that the government wanted to implement in the fight against high energy prices and inflation in Italy. Draghi interpreted that as a breach of confidence within the coalition.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella refused Draghi’s resignation. Mattarella said the prime minister should go back to parliament to gauge the vote there. A new vote of confidence in the Senate will follow on Wednesday evening, but once again the Five Star Movement has announced that it will not be present.
The centre-right parties Forza Italia and Lega have also announced that they will not be attending. Instead, they filed a motion to form a coalition without the Five Star Movement. But that goes against the condition that Draghi previously stated: he only wants to continue if all coalition parties support his government. This now seems to be a definitive end to the politician’s premiership.
Far-right party can profit from government crisis
In Italy, all parties from parliament are currently also in government, except for the far-right and post-fascist Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy). This opposition party could benefit greatly from the government crisis and possible early elections. New elections were already planned for the spring of 2023.
Draghi, former president of the European Central Bank (ECB), came to power last February and is the sixth Italian prime minister in ten years. Within the European Union, there was a lot of attachment to Draghi’s stay, because he is seen as a stable leader.