Italy: Mario Draghi offers to resign
Italy Early elections may be needed to break a political deadlock, government officials said Friday, after the prime minister announced his departure following a coalition partner mutiny. President Sergio Mattarella rejected draghis resigned on Thursday and asked him to address parliament next week for a clearer picture of the political situation. If unity cannot return to government ranks soon, the only alternative would be to hold elections in the fall, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said, warning that an early vote would be welcomed by Russia, but Italy’s would harm the economy.
“If Draghi falls, we vote,” he told RTL radio, adding that without a fully functioning government, Italy risks losing billions of euros in European Union post-pandemic recovery funds in the coming months and could not take steps to combat rising energy costs.
“The Draghi administration and the coalition that supported it must continue, but at the moment I see it as very, very difficult.”
Draghi’s 18-month-old government was thrown into turmoil by the populist 5-star movementwho on Thursday boycotted a parliamentary confidence motion over Draghi’s plans to tackle the rising cost of living, arguing they didn’t go far enough.
Critics say the party, which was torn apart by a schism last month, acted purely out of self-interest and was keen to raise awareness among voters after a slump in opinion polls.
At Express.co.uk, residents of Naples, a major city in southern Italy, shared their dismay at the political deadlock.
Laura De Sanctis, 33, social media manager told this website: “We are in government crisis number 66, 75 years from now. To say this is discouraging would lessen the sense of despondency and helplessness that surrounds anyone who has the decency to have a minimal interest in their country.
Mario Draghi’s resignation sparked fears for the future of the EU (Image: GETTY•EXPRESS)
Mario Draghi’s resignation was prompted by the 5 Stars led by Giuseppe Conte (Image: GETTY)
“In the wake of a pandemic that has hit our economy more than other countries and with a war that, with its consequences, affects all of Europe, it is really disheartening to realize how much the individualism of individual parties is able to place itself in the foreground in relation to the already complex overall picture.
“Yet another demonstration of the lack of stability in our country also scares me about what we are transferring to Europe.
“How all of Europe can read this lack of common ground, even at such a critical moment.
“I firmly believe that being part of the EU today is something that cannot be questioned in the least. It cannot waver. And this lack of consistency tarnishes our own reputation.”
Store owner Francesco di Minico, 44, also shared his concerns about Italy’s international reputation without Draghi.
He said, “Here we go again. Another governmental crisis in the middle of summer.
“Inflation, energy crisis, resurgence of Covid infections, war… just to name a few.
“Also a wound for the EU, our Prime Minister Mario Draghi was probably one of the strongest proponents of joint European action in various sectors: from the Ukrainian issue to major international economic issues. We will see what comes out now that Mattarella refused his resignation.”
READ MORE: Mario Draghi’s fall is a disaster for the EU, but could cost the UK billions
Self-employed Fabio De Luca, 35, also warned of the risk of a “collapsing” EU amid an energy crisis and the lack of reassuring political figures in the bloc.
He said: “The 5 Stars have opened a crisis that will backfire in the possible upcoming elections.
“The wrong time with important deadlines looming, especially the budget law.
“With the electoral law (which has not been changed) there is a risk of a very long process.
“It took 70 days for the yellow-green coalition” [Salvini-Conte] to form a government.
“Who is going to work on the budget in this crisis?
“And then the country is handed over to the most right-wing I’ve ever seen.
“And in this case, where will we be in the European Union?
“The risk of a collapse of an institution already struggling with the energy crisis and showing all its limits is very close, especially if we think of Macron’s political weakening in France without a majority and the resignation of Draghi, who is in the EU. represented a security for the country.”
NATO operative Massimo Impesi, 52, was also concerned about the future of the EU.
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Mario Draghi’s resignation opens a ‘wound’ for the EU, says Di Minico (Image: EXPRESS)
He said: “I think if we go to vote, as it seems, the right will win.
“Italy’s role within the European Union will be in jeopardy as there will be no guarantor like Mario Draghi.”
Web developer Antonio Messina, 53, shared his frustration at the “irresponsibility” of a disappointing political class.
He told Express.co.uk: “To me, what happened yesterday is beyond logic.
“I don’t think much will change at an international level. It’s true that Draghi is a well-known person at European level, but I don’t think he can change that much in the opinion that people have about Italy.”
“It’s always been the same with the stock markets. Obviously the spread shoots up and the stock market collapses, but that always happens and then we recover anyway as long as we give some semblance of stability.
“As for the European Union, I hope that the EU is actually strengthened. It is the only political body that can influence general geopolitics. And it is the only political reality that will allow us a period of peace.
“At a time when we talk so much about World War III, we probably need it more than in other times and the European Union needs to be strengthened and even slightly adapted in my opinion.
“I am shocked in general, from the United States to China. But we Italians are naturally ridiculous, from all points of view.”
Risks of political chaos have made financial markets nervous as Italy’s premium on German debt rose to a month-long high on Friday.
Underlining those concerns, Olli Rehn, European Central Bank policymaker, said Italy could be hit particularly hard by a European energy crisis in the wake of its political crisis, saying that Draghi “provided much-needed stability, perseverance and determination in the Italian economy.” decision-making”. .
Mario Draghi news: Messina says Italian politicians are ‘irresponsible’ (Image: EXPRESS)
In his native Finland, Mr Rehn said: “We may have a very difficult period in Italy.”
National elections will be held in the first half of 2023, and when the vote comes forward, parties will have little time to draft manifestos and draft their lists of candidates.
However, two sources in the prime minister’s office, who declined to be named, expressed pessimism about the future of the coalition and said Draghi was determined to step down. The most likely outcome was a vote in early October, they said.
In that case, Mr Draghi could stay on as caretaker but be unable to draft the 2023 budget or implement reforms demanded by Europe in return for the recovery funds.
Antonio Schiano di Cola, 61 and a typographer, had slightly more hopes for early elections, which cast doubt on Draghi’s importance to the country’s well-being.
He said: “I think politics is going through a very dark period, so it has created discontent among the general public.
“What happened yesterday is contradictory.
“On the one hand, I recognize that Draghi represents perhaps one of the few authoritative faces that Italy can present in Europe and in the world at the moment.
“Just think of his previous role at the ECB.
“So even as head of government he had an authoritative voice in Europe and in the world.
“I hope this can lead to something new and positive.
Giorgia Meloni calls for early elections in Italy (Image: GETTY)
“Even if it’s a very vague hope, because if the Italians can’t choose who they are governed by, we will be doomed to an ever-declining and increasingly poor political scene.”
Renato Brunetta, minister of public administration and member of the centre-right Forza Italia party, said on Friday: “Italy cannot do without Mario Draghi.
“We cannot lose the credibility and confidence that we have gained in Europe and the world in such difficult times.”
Draghi, a widely respected former ECB president, has played a prominent role in the EU’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, helping to draft economic sanctions against Moscow and sending weapons to Kiev.
None of the parties in the national unity government have called for elections following Draghi’s resignation.
However, the only major group that remained outside the coalition, the far-right Brothers of Italy, immediately embraced the idea.
Led by Giorgia Meloni, the Brothers of Italy have seen their support grow during their time in opposition and it looks like they will likely become the largest single party in the next parliament.
“With Draghi’s resignation, this term of office is over,” Meloni wrote on Twitter. “Immediate elections.”