Playing by someone else's rules: how the socio-political crisis is developing in Italy

Russia prefers to have good relations with Italy and wants her to overcome all the problems that led the country to a government crisis.

This was stated on July 15 by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, in a comment to the Italian media.

“We wish Italy all the best and also to overcome the problems that were created by previous governments.

We want to have good relations with Italy.

Not only the leadership (of Russia. -

), but most Russians consider Italy a good partner, ”said the ANSA diplomat.

In addition, in a comment to the AGI agency, she stressed that the Russian Federation wishes "the Italians a government that will not be inclined to serve the interests of the United States."

• EU Foreign Service Representative Peter Stano

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• © Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency

At the same time, Brussels came to the conclusion that the situation in Italy is allegedly the result of Russia's attempts to destabilize the European Union.

This statement, in particular, was made by the representative of the EU Foreign Service Peter Stano.

In an ANSA commentary, he suggested that Moscow allegedly influences the national politics of European countries by spreading "misinformation." 

Internal divisions

Recall that on July 14, the head of the Italian government, Mario Draghi, during a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, announced his intention to step down from his post.

The reason was the refusal of the Five Star Movement (M5S), which until recently formed the basis of the ruling coalition, to participate in the vote on confidence in the government in the Senate (the upper house of the Italian parliament. -

).

As Draghi himself noted, "there is no longer that part of the national unity that has supported this government since its inception."

Earlier, the Prime Minister said that he does not see his government without the participation of M5S.

However, President Sergio Mattarella refused to accept Draghi's resignation, inviting him to speak in Parliament.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Five Star Movement, Giuseppe Conte, has previously explained why his party does not intend to take part in the Senate vote.

According to him, the question of confidence in the government, put to the vote, was linked to the adoption of a bill on a €23 billion assistance package for families and companies. M5S does not agree with this bill, because they do not consider the measures contained in it sufficient, Conte said.

This question is not the only one that does not find support among the party.

In particular, the Five Star Movement does not agree with the policy of Mario Draghi regarding the Ukrainian crisis.

Back on April 26, Conte tweeted that M5S opposed sending heavy weapons to Kyiv that would go beyond legitimate self-defense in accordance with Art.

51 of the UN Charter.

“We must work on a political solution to the conflict, we need to increase diplomacy, not military tension,” the politician said then.

In early June, he reaffirmed his opposition to Italy's participation in the arms race in Ukraine and the increase in military spending.

At that time, Rome had already sent Kyiv three shipments of weapons.

“When I met with Draghi on the issue of increasing military spending, I said that there is a dramatic economic situation with the prospect of a serious recession ... We already have 12% of workers receive beggarly wages.

In addition, the middle class continues to get poorer,” Conte told ANSA.

• Western weapons for Ukraine

• AFP

• © Sergei SUPINSKY

The supply of weapons to Ukraine provoked a split in the Five Star Movement itself.

Thus, Conte's position was condemned by his fellow party member Luigi Di Maio, who holds the post of head of the Italian Foreign Ministry, who fully supports Draghi on the Ukrainian issue.

In this regard, on June 21, he announced his withdrawal from M5S and the formation of a new political association, which was called "Together for the Future."

About 60 parliamentarians left the Five Star Movement with him.

It is worth noting that Giuseppe Conte and Mario Draghi tried to resolve differences through negotiations.

In early July, the M5S leader even sent a letter to the prime minister, in which he outlined his vision of the country's future policy in nine points.

However, Draghi regarded this document as an ultimatum, saying on July 13 that it was pointless to keep the coalition on this basis.

Now, as experts say, it is likely that one of the scenarios will be the dissolution of parliament and the announcement of early parliamentary elections, which may be held in the fall.

Draghi will act as prime minister until a new government is formed.

Luigi Di Maio also allowed the possibility of early elections.

“On Wednesday (July 20. -

) Italy risks being left without a government, facing the prospect of early elections, which is not a problem for parties, but is a big problem for the country,” he said on the RTL radio station.

"We pay for them"

Meanwhile, many Italians are increasingly dissatisfied with the actions of the authorities, who, trying to follow the current Western political situation, have exacerbated the problems in their own country.

So, in a conversation with RT, the citizens of Italy condemned their government's excessive enthusiasm for anti-Russian sanctions, which hit their well-being.

“These sanctions are coming back to Europe like a boomerang.

We, ordinary citizens, pay for them, and they only contribute to the impoverishment of the population.

Once quite wealthy people are now in a difficult position because of these (anti-Russian. -

) sanctions that make themselves felt here, ”says Sergio Chiresi, deputy director of the Catholic charity Caritas.

According to him, poverty in the country continues to grow, and the situation will worsen even more in the coming months.

Another interlocutor of RT, the head of the Italian industrial association of small and medium-sized enterprises Assoimpresa Mario Attinasi, recalls that it was the policy of the authorities that provoked an energy crisis in the republic, which leads to the collapse of many local enterprises.

“Gas and electricity bills have risen by 400% – the situation is truly incredible.

Due to skyrocketing taxes and bills, thousands of companies are on the brink of closing.

The Draghi government has an obligation to intervene, the authorities must do something immediately,” says Attinasi.

• Sicily, Italy

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• © Gonzalo Azumendi

His opinion is shared by the interlocutor of RT, who wished to remain anonymous: “Without a doubt, the situation is deplorable.

Bills have skyrocketed, and many families like mine have found themselves in dire straits.

We hope that something will change for the better in the coming months, but I am very skeptical, since the state does not make much effort to help such families.

Due to (anti-Russian. -

) sanctions in our country, everything will worsen again.

"Predictable Partner"

According to Elena Maslova, Associate Professor of the MGIMO Department of Integration Processes of the Russian Foreign Ministry, what is happening in Italy today could be the beginning of a large-scale political crisis, which was provoked by the lack of a common vision of the country's political course by the government.

“And the supply of weapons to Ukraine is one of those points on which there is no consensus in the Draghi government.

Moreover, this issue splits not only the Italian government, it splits the Italian society, because, according to sociological surveys, the population is also divided in their views, and almost equally, ”explained RT Maslova in a commentary.

She also noted that the current situation in the country was the result of Rome's excessive desire for pluralism of opinions in the ruling circles.

As a result, each party is trying to pull the blanket over itself, and even a radical change of government will not be able to solve urgent issues overnight, the expert believes.

“These are systemic problems that have accumulated in Italy, which are associated with the economic crisis due to the reduction in energy supplies from Russia, due to high inflation, and an increase in all utility bills.

And some “effective manager” should save the situation.

In Brussels, Draghi is still considered to be such,” Maslova said.

According to her, the EU has given a colossal credit of trust to the Italian prime minister, and if he resigns now, this will negatively affect Brussels' attitude towards Rome.

“Draghi is first of all a convenient interlocutor for Brussels and a predictable partner who supports European and Euro-Atlantic values.

Brussels, NATO, and the United States do not expect tricks from him and count on his loyalty and adherence to the general Western anti-Russian course.

Therefore, they are interested in him remaining in his post, ”the expert added.

• EU flags

• Gettyimages.ru

• © WALTER ZERLA

In turn, the general director of the Center for Political Information, Alexei Mukhin, in a conversation with RT, suggested that a possible change of leadership in Italy could give hope for the restoration of dialogue between Moscow and Rome.

“Russia, bypassing Brussels, is building communication with all European countries, trying to achieve mutual understanding and balanced relations.

However, it is useless to negotiate with states whose leadership is subject to external influence and is ready to sacrifice their interests to please the current situation.

That is why the Russian Foreign Ministry was so cautious about the fact that in the future the authorities of the republic may be more balanced in their attitude towards those countries with which they have mutually beneficial ties, ”Mukhin explained.

Meanwhile, as Senator Olga Kovitidi recalled in a comment to RT, the EU, playing by someone else's rules, incurs huge losses.

“The ratings of politicians are rapidly falling.

Migration, financial, energy, economic, food crises revealed multiple unresolved European problems, deliberately covered up by the Ukrainian crisis, ”she said.

In this regard, the politician considers the onset of a large-scale European crisis inevitable.

“By autumn, the situation not only in Europe, but also in the world will only worsen, given the growing problems associated with the rejection of Russian gas,” Kovitidi concluded.