Italy to hold September election after PM Draghi resigns
Italy’s president has announced the country will hold early elections in September following Mario Draghi’s resignation as prime minister from the country.
The snap election will take place on 25 September.
On Thursday President Sergio Mattarella signed a decree to dissolve parliament. He said: “The period we are going through does not allow for any pause in the [government] action which is needed to counter the economic and social crisis and rising inflation.”
Draghi resigned on Thursday after he attempted to save the coalition government, which failed when three key parties decided not to back the PM in a confidence vote.
Draghi is a popular figure in Italy, he had initially handed in his resignation a week ago but was asked to stay on and try to continue his administration, but after failing to get the backing in the confidence vote, he formally handed his resignation on Thursday morning – where it was accepted.
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The three parties: Five Star Movement (M5S), Matteo Salvini’s far-right League and Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italian did not participate in the confidence vote on Wednesday night.
The September election could see the far-right Brothers of Italy lead a coalition including the League and Forza Italia – according to the latest poll figures.
The Brothers of Italy is in first place on voter intentions with nearly 24%, ahead of the Democratic party (PD) on 22% and the League on 14%, according to a poll by the SWG institute carried out on Monday. Forza Italia is currently expected to reap about 7% of the vote and M5S 11%.
The polling suggests the PD may be forced to ally with M5S if it is to have a chance at beating the right.
Italy’s complex mix of proportional voting and first past the post put the rightwing coalition a “great advantage”.
Should a Brothers of Italy-led coalition win, it “would offer a much more disruptive scenario for Italy and the EU”, wrote Luigi Scazzieri, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform.
Draghi, a popular figure in Italy, became the country’s sith PM in a decade. He started the job dealing with the Covid pandemic and economic fallout. He had wide support in parliament and such standing abroad many assumed he would survive the political machinations until the end of his mandate in 2023.
Italy to hold September election amid political crisis
The current political crisis facing Italy was triggered last week when M5S boycotted a vote on a €26bn (£22bn) cost of living aid package – arguing it was sufficient.
Many, including world leaders, called for Draghi to remain in post, arguing he is fundamental to ensuring stability in Italy and as a partner in facing the challenges of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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