ROME – Prime Minister Mario Draghi of Italy offers to resign again on Thursday, a day later one last attempt to convince the country’s staunch parties to stick together for the good of the nation failed spectacularly, as nationalist and populist forces united to defeat the unity government. his nation.
Mr Draghi has “resigned again” – the second time in more than a week – a statement from President Sergio Mattarella’s office said, adding that Mr Mattarella “taken note” of the decision and the while, meanwhile, “the government remains responsible for regular business operations.”
Mr. Mattarella rejected Draghi’s resignation last week in the hope that Mr. Draghi could still convince Italy’s disputing sides to make peace. Mr Draghi made the decision on Wednesday, when he made his case before Parliament, arguing that “the only way forward, if we want to stay together, is to rebuild from the ground up.” this treaty, with courage, selflessness and trust.”
But with elections looming, Italy’s parties decided not to go ahead but burst into a government seen by many as one of the most stable, effective and influential Italian governments in years to try to trying to gain political advantage and take power over themselves.
The effective collapse of Mr. Draghi’s government amounted to a devastating blow to both Italy and Europe. As early as Thursday, financial markets reacted negatively to the impending departure of Draghi, the former European Central Bank president who helped save the euro, and who, by credit his debt, has increased investor confidence in his debt-full country.
If Mr Draghi showed a rare spark of anger on Wednesday, as it was clear that the unity he called for was not coming, he spoke in a more conciliatory tone when speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday morning. .
“First of all, thank you,” Mr. Draghi said to a wide standing ovation, though not from the League and Five-Star Movement parties, which refused to vote for him in a confidence vote. Wednesday and essentially pulled the plug on his government. .
As the applause died down, he joked that sometimes a banker’s heart still beats, and then he read a short note saying that “based on yesterday’s vote” in the Senate, he will suspend the proceedings until meeting with Mr. Mattarella. He then went to the official presidential residence at the Quirinal Palace and resigned. Mattarella, who has been imbued with extraordinary strength during the government crisis, is expected to speak later in the day to provide some clarity on his vision for the coming weeks and months, including including whether he called an early election and whether Mr. Draghi. will leave or stay in the interim.
Draghi’s political stature ushered in a brief golden age for Italy after he took office as prime minister in 2021, and in Wednesday’s speech he said the broad solidarity coalition had allowing Italy to escape the worst period. pandemic, quick financial assistance to those who need it, and cutting “useless bureaucracy”.
He also listed important overhauls in various areas, including increasing energy independence from Russia, which he called “necessary for Italy’s modernization”, and noted that Rome had received 45.9 billion euros (about $47 billion) from the European Commission in a recovery fund, with another 21 billion euros in the works.
Under Mr. Draghi, Italy took over a much larger footprint in Europe. He convinced the country, which has a close history and economic ties to Russia, to have a strong position support Ukraine with weaponsdemonstrated a leading role in the recognition of Kyiv’s application for member of the European Union and condemn Russia’s Invasion and punish Moscow with sanctions.
Many of Draghi’s supporters have argued that the introduction of stability and capacity into Italian politics, and the moderation needed to work together in a government of national unity, has essentially brought country from populist fever.
Instead, Italy headed for elections in which the most popular politician, Giorgia Meloni, leader of a party with neo-Nazi roots, skyrocketed in popularity by 22% in the polls. , from less than 5% in the last election in 2018.
Unlike Ms. Meloni, who has unleashed campaign bombs from the opposition, her nominal ally, Matteo Salvini of the League party, has joined the government of national unity, in part to satisfy the base his backing business in the north of the country, which likes Mr. Draghi.
But on Wednesday, with the election approaching, Mr. Salvini’s patience was exhausted and he brought Mr Draghi’s government to the ground, seemingly eager to return to his campaign post, regaining his popularity. fame that Mrs. Meloni took from him and showed that he should be the country’s next prime minister.
Whoever comes out on top, Mr Salvini and Ms Meloni have formed a coalition that, along with former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, is highly favored to prevail in the election, which could come as early as late September or early October.
