the prime minister of Italy , Mario Draghi, has until this Wednesday (20) to form a government and remain in office. The deadline was established by President Sergio Mattarella.
Last Thursday (14), the prime minister presented a resignation request to the head of state, stating that the “coalition of national unity of his government no longer existed” and that, therefore, the best way out was to resign.
On the same day, the president rejected the request, requesting that Draghi appear in Parliament to get a clear view of the political situation.
The crisis in the government began after Draghi lost support from the 5 Star Movement, one of the grassroots parties, which opposed a project by the ruling coalition to face the rising cost of living, arguing that they did not do enough to help the population.
The motion covered a financial aid package worth around €26 billion. It also included a provision authorizing Italy’s capital, Rome, to build a giant garbage incinerator — a project 5 Star has always opposed.
Conservatives rule out composing government with 5 Stars
This Tuesday (19), the conservative parties of the coalition ruled out continuing to govern alongside the 5 Stars,
Draghi has enough support to remain in office without the legend, but he has always rejected that possibility.
A source in his office said he was waiting to see if the party, led by former prime minister Giuseppe Conte, would rejoin the group.
Conte said he is waiting for a sign from Draghi that he is ready to pass some of the 5 Star’s political priorities, such as a minimum wage, before renewing his support for the government.
Further muddying the waters, the Liga and Forza Italia parties said they no longer wanted to share power with the 5 Stars.
“The party is unwilling to continue working with the unreliable 5 Star,” the League said after a meeting between leader Matteo Salvini and senior lawmakers.
The position of the grassroots parties further complicates the already difficult efforts to maintain the government of Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
Stay or leave?
5 Stars has held several meetings in recent days to try to decide its strategy, but the often heated discussions only revealed deep divisions that could be widened on Wednesday, when lawmakers vote after Draghi’s speech.
Italian newspapers have speculated that if enough 5-Star lawmakers rally to the prime minister’s side, he will be willing to continue, even without Conte’s support.
Draghi comfortably won last week’s vote of confidence on a package of measures aimed at alleviating the high cost of living despite the 5-Star boycott.
It is almost unheard of for a government to fall despite having the support of parliament, but the prime minister said his coalition of unity cannot continue unless it is united.
Future
If the prime minister does not agree to keep his post or fails to re-establish a coalition, the alternative would be to call an election in the autumn (of the Northern Hemisphere), explained Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, warning that an early vote would harm the Italian economy.
Italy has not had an autumn election since World War II, as it is during this period when the country’s budget is usually drawn up and approved by Parliament.
If not brought forward, general elections in Italy will take place in 2023.
If voters are called to the polls before then, Draghi could remain in the role as an interim, but he would not draft a budget for next year, nor could he enact reforms demanded by Europe.
*With information from Júlia Vieira, Renata Souza and Reuters
Source: CNN Brasil
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