International press review
In the spotlight: the resignation of Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi
Audio 05:21
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi during a press conference in kyiv, Ukraine, June 16, 2022. © REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko
By: Anne Corpet Follow
5 mins
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"
Italy betrayed
" headlines
La Republicca
on the front page under a photo where Mario Draghi's face is hidden by the hand he brings to his forehead, as if he were dismayed, heartbroken.
As a whole, the Italian press draws a very glowing portrait of the resigning Prime Minister and fulminates against those who worked for his downfall.
“
The Cowards of Draghicide
” denounces
La Stampa
, for example , before noting with bitterness “
now, Italy, in the eyes of the world, is a bankrupt political system
”.
Several newspapers highlight Mario Draghi's unfailing commitment alongside Ukraine.
In its editorial,
La Republicca
remarks: "
It may be a coincidence, but the two politicians most acidic vis-à-vis the Italian position on the war in Ukraine, the most ambiguous in their judgment on Putin and the NATO's role, are the same ones that destabilized the majority and opened Pandora's box
".
“
Here is the crux of the problem
,” continues the columnist, “
Draghi's fall cannot be explained either by the overly harsh tone of his speech, or by the alleged lack of respect for parliament.
In essence, the government is collapsing when it comes to foreign policy as a war unfolds a three-hour flight from Rome.
»
Corriere della Serra
lists the merits of the outgoing Prime Minister, and also insists on his firmness in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine: "
A miracle in a country crossed by belligerent torrents of anti-Americanism and pro-Putinism
" comments the daily , before adding "
only time will tell if and to what extent the
'Russian Connection'
has played a role in the sudden precipitation of political events in recent weeks
".
Europe regrets the departure of the Italian Prime Minister
The resignation of Mario Draghi is also widely commented on in the rest of Europe “
Italy trapped by its old demons
” headlines
the Sueddeutsche Zeitung
which evokes “
a colossal loss at the most stupid moment
”.
“
With Draghi, Italy has acquired international prestige over the past seventeen months.
Wherever he had his say, he was heard, Italy was heard
", notes the newspaper, before detailing: "
he carried out a successful national vaccination campaign, presented a recovery plan which convinced the European Union.
And he sided with Ukraine unconditionally
.”
"
Europe alarmed by the political crisis in Italy
", title for its part
El Pais
.
The Spanish daily describes Draghi's government as “
very efficient
” and underlines “
it succeeded in implementing reforms postponed for decades and in restoring Italy's international prestige.
His work has been tremendous
."
El Pais
also dwells on the pro-European and Atlanticist position of Mario Draghi and underlines: “
after years of flirtations by all governments with Moscow, Draghi has extricated Italy from this promiscuity
”.
El País
also indicates that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called Mario Draghi on July 19 evening, so that he would not resign.
“
But, notes the daily, it no longer depended on him.
»
Final duel in the race to Downing Street
In Great Britain, it is the succession of Boris Johnson which occupies the front page of the press.
The Conservative Party will have to decide between former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Foreign Minister Liz Truss.
And here too, there is a form of consternation at the spectacle offered by political life.
“
We desperately need it, but no vision for a society in crisis has emerged from the Tory leadership race,
” laments
The Guardian
in an editorial, before adding: “
there is a palpable sense that the country is adrift.
Under the Conservatives, the essentials of government simply do not work.
On immigration, Europe, nationalism and the environment, there is not much to distinguish between the two competitors
”.
The newspaper notes that whoever wins, it will be an “
important moment for diversity
”.
Rishi Sunak would be Britain's first non-white prime minister and Liz Truss would be the country's third female prime minister.
But
The Guardian
speaks of a symbolic victory for the representation of minorities, because, writes the editorialist, "
both candidates bear responsibility for the government's substantial failure to address systemic inequalities
”.
The conspiratorial accents of Boris Johnson
The Times
, for its part, is concerned about the tone of Boris Johnson's speech before his departure from Downing Street.
The newspaper denounces the conspiratorial tones employed by the departing British Prime Minister: "
if we are not careful
", declared Boris Johnson, "
the leader of the opposition and the Deep State will succeed in their plot to bring us back into the alignment with the European Union as a prelude to our reintegration
".
The terms '
conspiracy
' and '
deep state
', notes
The Times,
'
provide the speaker with a convenient explanation for his own failure.
The newspaper recalls that this rhetoric led to an attempted coup in the United States, and asserts: "
it is undemocratic and dangerous to suggest that a debate on rapprochement with Europe must be part of an infamous campaign to undermine the will of the people
”.
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