Government crisis in Italy: Last act in the Draghi drama?

Will Mario Draghi remain Italian Prime Minister or insist on resigning? He wants to explain himself in the Senate today – what happens afterwards is not only awaited with concern in Italy.

Mario Draghi should stay – that’s the mood in Italy before the vote on the prime minister in both chambers of parliament. More than 1,000 mayors from left and right have signed an appeal pro Draghi.

In Rome, Milan, Turin and Florence, people took to the streets to demonstrate for the prime minister. Dozens of civil society organizations – from environmental groups to Catholic youth organizations to the anti-mafia initiative Libera – are also demanding that Draghi continue as head of government.

The polls are clear

In recent polls, the head of government gets 65 percent approval. Remarkably, says politics professor Lorenzo Castellani from the University of Rome Luiss: “Draghi is currently perceived as the best solution by the most active and productive part of the country. It is also seen as a kind of antidote against the parties.”

The commitments and demonstrations pro-Draghi, says Castellani, are also “a symptom of distrust in the parties.”

Five stars are against Draghi

The current government crisis triggered the Five Star Movement. Former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte’s party refused to support Draghi in the Senate.

The head of government then announced his resignation, but was asked by President Sergio Mattarella to go back to parliament and seek approval.

The reason for the break was an aid package to support families and businesses in the face of high energy prices. These proposals do not go far enough for the Five Star Movement, and the Conte party also rejects the construction of a waste incineration plant near Rome, which was also part of the legislative package.

The populists struggle with themselves

The former protest party has been struggling to find a line for or against Draghi in day and night meetings since Thursday. Five-star boss Conte is one of the hardliners. Critics accuse him of raising his profile politically for his troubled party.

Conte himself says: “If the measures are not enough for companies and citizens, then they are not enough for the Five Star Movement either.” It’s not up to the Five Stars to “repair the breach of the trust pact that President Draghi spoke about.”

In other words: Draghi must approach the Five Star Movement in his speech in Parliament today.

Now the right-wing parties are dissatisfied

But the prime minister is now caught between two fires. Because now the co-governing right-wing parties are also threatening. They are no longer willing to work with the Five Star Movement: it is unreliable.

The former President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, emphasizes on behalf of the Berlusconi party Forza Italia, but also of the right-wing Lega: “There can be no stability with a government in which the Five Star Movement is present.”

That means, according to Tajani: “Either a Draghi government without Conte or new elections.” New elections that the centre-right parties would win, according to recent polls.

Who still supports Draghi

In parliament, the Social Democrats of the PD and the party Italia Viva of former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi are fighting for Draghi to continue. PD deputy leader Debora Serracchiani says: “We have to complete the reforms, also to get the announced European aid. We have to reduce labor costs.”

In addition, the pandemic has not yet been overcome and there is a war. Anyone who loves Italy, says Serracchiani, must vote for Draghi in the vote of confidence.

Draghi demands broad support

The former head of the European Central Bank himself has not commented publicly on the government crisis these days. Last week he made it clear in a written statement that he would only be available as prime minister for a government of national unity.

Which would mean: Draghi will only continue if there is broad support for Draghi in Parliament today.