For almost a year and a half, Italy has been experiencing a phase of atypical continuity in government: the multi-party government led by Prime Minister Draghi has so far been more stable than many observers had expected. Now the alliance could break up anyway.
In Italy, the government of non-party Prime Minister Mario Draghi is in danger of collapsing in a vote of confidence. The co-governing Five Star Movement announced late in the evening that it would stay away from the Senate vote this Thursday. Party leader Giuseppe Conte said the government must do more to combat growing social problems.
The leader of the right-wing Lega, Matteo Salvini, had previously announced that he would no longer support Draghi should Five Stars leave the coalition. An early election is the best solution. According to party circles, the Democratic Party is also not prepared to form a new government without the Five Stars. Draghi himself had announced his resignation if Five Stars terminated the coalition.
“We will not take part in the vote tomorrow,” said Conte. “We are absolutely ready for dialogue to make our constructive contribution to the government and to Draghi. But we are not ready to give a blank check.” The vote is about an economic stimulus package designed to help families and businesses deal with the energy crisis. Conte presented a number of political demands last week and made their fulfillment a condition for remaining in the coalition. On Wednesday, the leadership of his party met for consultation.
Draghi has not yet issued a statement. He has called on the parties to stop issuing ultimatums and to support his government. Since February 2021, Draghi has led the governing coalition, which ranges from the left to the far right, as an independent. A new parliament will be elected in Italy in the first half of next year. New elections could be brought forward to the autumn. This would be unusual, however, because this is the time when the budget, which has to be approved by the end of the year, is traditionally prepared.
