Government collapse could be blow to Italy but not the end of the world, analyst says

Record ID: 1681108

  • Title: Government collapse could be blow to Italy but not the end of the world, analyst says
  • Date: 15th July 2022
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (JUNE 15, 2022) (REUTERS) MEDIA IN FRONT OF THE ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE, PALAZZO CHIGI ITALIAN AND EUROPEAN UNION FLAGS REPORTERS CARABINIERI MILITARY POLICEMAN MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WALKING PALAZZO CHIGI ITALIAN FLAG PALAZZO CHIGI ON THE PIAZZA COLONNA (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORZA ITALIA PARTY NATIONAL COORDINATOR, ANTONIO TAJANI, SAYING: "For me, as an
  • Embargoed: 29th July 2022 13:26
  • Keywords: Antonio Tajani Italy Politics President Sergio Mattarella Prime Minister Mario Draghi Rome crisis government resignation
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • City: ROME, ITALY
  • Country: Italy
  • Topics: Europe,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001208815072022RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Italy is stuck in political limbo after Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi tendered his resignation in the wake of a mutiny by a coalition partner.
    The country might need early elections to overcome a political impasse.
    President Sergio Mattarella rejected Draghi's resignation on Thursday (July 14) and asked him to address parliament next week to get a clearer picture of the political situation.
    Giovanni Orsina, a history professor at LUISS University in Rome, told Reuters on Friday (July 15) that although the situation was bleak, it did not represent an "end-of-the-world scenario."
    Draghi's 18-month-old government was thrown into turmoil by the populist 5-Star Movement, which boycotted a parliamentary confidence motion on Draghi's plans to tackle the growing cost of living, arguing they did not go far enough.
    A national election is due in the first half of 2023 and bringing the vote forward would give parties little time to draw up manifestos and prepare their lists of candidates.
    However, two sources in the prime minister's office, who declined to be named, expressed pessimism over the future of the coalition, saying Draghi was determined to stand down.
    The most likely outcome was a vote in early October, they said.
    In that case, Draghi could stay on in a caretaker capacity, but would not be able to draw up a budget for 2023 or enact reforms demanded by Europe in return for the recovery funds.
    None of the parties in the national unity government have called for elections in the wake of Draghi's resignation offer but if unity cannot return swiftly to government ranks, the only alternative would be for an election to be called in the autumn.
    However, the one major group that stayed outside the coalition, the far-right Brothers of Italy led by Giorgia Meloni, embraced the idea at once after it has seen its support soar during its time in opposition and looks likely to emerge as the largest single party in the next parliament.
    Italy has not had an autumn election since World War Two as that is normally the period when the budget is drawn up.
    The 5-Star Movement is likely to come under heavy pressure from other coalition partners to back down in its confrontation with Draghi and allow his administration to see out the legislature, but there was no immediate sign of any shift in its position.
    (Production: Antonio Denti, Fabiano Franchitti)
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