Italian head of government Mario Draghi tenders his resignation, the president refuses it
Italian Council President Mario Draghi during a press conference in Rome, July 12, 2022. AP - Mauro Scrobogna
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Mario Draghi presented his resignation to President Sergio Matterella this Thursday, July 14, after the crumbling of his coalition, but he refused it.
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In a press release, the Italian presidency indicates this Thursday evening that Sergio Mattarella has refused the resignation of the President of the Council.
Mario Draghi had announced earlier in the day during a Council of Ministers his intention to present his resignation, after the decision of the 5 Star Movement (M5S), member of the ruling coalition, to boycott a vote of confidence in the Senate.
The coalition supporting the President of the Council has so far brought together all the political forces represented in Parliament, with the exception of the far-right Fratelli d'Italia party.
He therefore theoretically has a majority to govern even without the 5 Stars, but the former boss of the European Central Bank had repeatedly affirmed that there would be no government without them.
He had indeed come to business in early 2021 to form a coalition of “national unity” likely to overcome the pandemic emergency and the ensuing economic crisis.
However, without the support of the M5S, he considers that his government is becoming “political” and considers that he has not been mandated to lead a cabinet of this nature.
A position he reaffirmed this Thursday before his ministers.
“
Since my inauguration speech in Parliament, I have always said that this government would have continued only if it had a clear perspective of carrying out the program of government on which the political forces had voted confidence (...) These conditions no longer exist today
," said Mario Draghi.
But rather than accept his resignation, President Sergio Mattarella invited him to appear in Parliament to examine the situation caused by the boycott of the 5 Star Movement.
The vote of confidence concerned a decree-law containing measures of around 23 billion euros to help families and businesses in the face of inflation.
The text in question also contains a measure to facilitate the construction of a garbage incinerator in Rome, which the M5S are opposed to.
But analysts interviewed by Agence France-Presse also lend the M5S electoral ulterior motives and a desire to regain visibility.
Winner of the last legislative elections in 2018 with 32% of the vote and a relative majority in Parliament, the movement has since continued to plummet in voting intentions.
It is now at 10%-11%, and many of its elected officials have left it.
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Mario Draghi