2021 year of Italy thanks to Draghi

After the countless victims of the coronavirus in 2020, Italy returned to the forefront this year, managing to control the pandemic and the economic crisis.

The pandemic under control, the economy on a growth trajectory. A year after the tens of thousands of coronavirus deaths, 2021 seems to be the year of Italy. Let us not forget that the country managed to win the Euro last year, but also the Eurovision song contest. Italy’s recovery bears the signature of Prime Minister and former ECB President Mario Draghi. The 74-year-old politician gave the Italians optimism, giving them the prospect of overcoming the economic and the pandemic crisis.

“Mario Draghi’s role is crucial, as he has insight, vision, realism and is in a constructive dialogue with the other EU member states,” top dressmaker Giorgio Armani told the German news agency dpa. makes us look good (bella figura) “, emphasizes the 87-year-old designer, who knows unquestionably from… good looks.

Italy is regaining lost ground and intensifying its influence

When Mario Draghi took over the reins of the country in early 2021, forming a technocratic government, he faced two major challenges at the same time: pandemic management and the financial crisis. As if that were not enough, the new government, chaired by the G20, was called upon to direct the 20 strongest economies in the world to tackle climate change and manage the crisis in Afghanistan following the political upheaval in Kabul.

“Italy’s voice has been strengthened internationally because Mario Draghi was an experienced and well-networked political figure when he took over as prime minister,” said Nino Galetti, head of the Konrad Adenauer branch of the German political foundation in Rome. At the end of November, the Italian Prime Minister and the French President, Emmanuel Macron, signed an important bilateral agreement in Rome, comparable to the Franco-German Treaty of the Elysée of 1963, signed between Adenauer and de Gaulle. Italy seems to be regaining lost ground, intensifying its international influence and getting closer to the EU’s two largest economies, France and Germany.

“Mario Draghi is a technocrat and not a politician who moves in the run-up to the next election,” said Nino Galetti. government partners “.

Rarely has a politician had such cross-party support

His strategy, especially on the pandemic front, proved successful. At a time when other countries were hesitant about possible measures, Rome made vaccination in the workplace mandatory and the use of a protective mask in means of transport. When the fourth wave of the pandemic was raging in Germany and Austria, in Italy the situation was under control and the country was even accepting patients from abroad. Economic expert Mario Draghi knew how to allocate the billions from the European Recovery Fund. With resources from public funds, Rome has more than 222 billion euros at its disposal to promote digitization, strengthen infrastructure and accelerate Italy’s ecological shift.

Italy’s GDP is expected to grow by 6% this year, experts estimate. At the same time, exports are on the rise: “Mario Draghi is pursuing his policy seriously, has placed technocrats in key positions in the government and has secured the confidence of Brussels,” said Gerg Buk, head of the German-Italian trade department. AHK).

In opinion polls, Italians say they are very happy with Draghi as prime minister. It is therefore no surprise that many see the next president of Italy in his face. Elections for a new president will take place in early 2022. But that would mean Draghi would have to step down as prime minister, something that almost all parties on the left or right would not want, at least at this time. Rarely has a politician in Italy had such support from across the political spectrum.

Manuel Schwartz, Johannes Neideker, dpa

Edited by: Stefanos Georgakopoulos

Source: Deutsche Welle