Italy’s mayors, business organizations and union leaders urged Prime Minister Mario Draghi over the weekend to rethink his decision to step down, warning that the stability of the indebted country was at risk.
Draghi submitted his resignation last week after one of the parties in his broad coalition, the 5 Star Movement, refused to back the government in a parliamentary confidence vote.
Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella rejected the resignation and asked him to speak in parliament next week, hoping to find a consensus to avoid early elections at a time of international turmoil and economic tension.
Draghi comfortably won a motion of confidence on measures aimed at alleviating the high cost of living for families and businesses. But he said that without the full support of all his partners, his government of national unity could not continue.
The populist 5 Stars, divided by internal divisions, says he has not withdrawn from the coalition, but has asked for Draghi that gives the group assurances that it will approve of its political priorities, such as a minimum wage.
“We cannot share the government’s responsibility if there is no certainty about the issues we highlight,” 5 Star leader Giuseppe Conte said on Facebook on Saturday.
A source in the prime minister’s office said that Draghi would not bow to any “ultimatum” and remains determined to resign.
But he faced pressure to change his mind amid warnings that Italy would risk losing billions of euros in EU post-pandemic recovery funds and struggle to contain rising energy costs without a fully functioning government.
The mayors of 110 Italian cities, including the top 10 metropolitan areas, said in an open letter that they were following the turmoil with “incredulity and concern” and urged all sides to show responsibility.
“We mayors, who are called upon every day to manage and solve the problems that afflict our citizens, ask Mario Draghi to go ahead and explain to parliament the good reasons why the government should continue,” they wrote.
A number of industrial, agricultural and trade associations also released statements urging the government to continue, while the head of Italy’s biggest union said stability was essential.
Source: CNN Brasil
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