In or out? Asks Italy’s PM Mario Draghi – awaiting fate in hands of coalition
- He wanted to resign because he didn’t have the backing of parties in his coalition – they are discussing his reassurances that flagship measures will go ahead
- The parties are unhappy about his reference to fiscal reform, freeing up beach concessions and his pledge of military aid to Ukraine
Italy held its breath on Wednesday as the country’s fractious parties furiously debated whether to support popular Prime Minister Mario Draghi at a crucial confidence vote to end a political crisis that could send Italians to snap elections.
Now was not the time for uncertainty within the euro zone’s third largest economy, amid a myriad of domestic and geopolitical challenges, from a struggling economy to Ukraine war, Draghi earlier told the Senate.
“We now need staunch support for the government’s programme,” he said, calling on parliamentarians for “courage, selflessness, credibility”.
“Are you ready? … You don’t owe this answer to me, but to all Italians”, he added.
In the stern speech by a usually softly-spoken Draghi, the former leader of the European Central Bank, who offered his resignation last week, said he was prepared to stay – but on one condition: if the wildly disparate parties pledge anew to a common agenda.
The crisis was sparked by the refusal by the Five Star Movement, a coalition member, to opt out of a confidence vote last week.
