Italy: the great voters choose the new president

The Quirinal Palace is the residence of the President of Italy.

The electors designate from this Monday, January 24, 2022 the successor of Sergio Mattarella.

AFP/Archives

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2 mins

In Italy, the electors are voting this Monday, January 24 to elect the successor to Sergio Mattarella as President of the Republic.

Six hundred and thirty deputies, 321 senators and 58 delegates from the regions - that is to say about a thousand people go to the polls in the afternoon.

The outcome of the election is very uncertain and could cause the ruling coalition to implode.

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This election might seem like a formality since in Italy it is the President of the Council who governs, but in the current context it represents a major challenge for the stability of the country. Because Italy is one of the countries most affected by the Covid pandemic, and it is therefore one of the main beneficiaries of the European recovery plan. Led by

the country needs stability more than ever to implement its

: 243 billion euros - between European funds and equity - which must be spread out until 2034.

Among the personalities approached, 

;

include the Minister of Justice, Marta Cartabia, and Mario Draghi, the big favorite to become President of the Republic.

But the risk would be great, if he were elected, of seeing the coalition in place shattered.

The majority he gathered, after the fall of

, brings together

, from the far right of the League to the left of the Democratic Party, including the 5-star movement and the Forza Italia curators.

►

: Presidential in Italy: the Parliament convened, the games are open for the Quirinal Palace

Another element which gives this election a particular importance: the repeated political crises since the coming to power in 2018 of the far right of the League and the populist movement 5 stars until the difficult formation of the current coalition.

Guarantor of the country's stability and of its international commitments, the President has played an increasingly important role in Italy's political life.

►

: Italy desperately seeks President of the Republic

The electoral process could take several days. 

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• Italy

• Mario Draghi

• Sergio Mattarella