By Silvia Marchetti
ROME (MaceNews) – Former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi was handed on Wednesday the mandate to form a new government by Italy’s head of state Sergio Mattarella and put an end to Italy’s political crisis.
“It’s a difficult moment. There’s a dramatic health crisis, which requires adequate responses in defeating the pandemic, completing the vaccination campaign, relaunching the economy. We have the opportunity to have at our disposal extraordinary European resources, we can do a lot for the future of the next generations and for social cohesion,” said Draghi, referring to the urgency to quickly define how to deploy EU-wide pandemic aid.
“I am confident unity will emerge in talks among political parties and groups, and there will be the capacity to give a positive feedback to Mattarella’s request,” added Draghi, who will be holding an initial round of talks in coming days with all political groups before reporting back to the head of state.
Talks are expected to start as soon as Wednesday. After the meeting at the presidential palace, Draghi headed to the parliament to meet up with lower house leader Roberto Fico.
Following failure of negotiations between ruling parties through Fico’s mediation, on Tuesday Mattarella appealed to all political forces to join forces in a national unity government able to steer the country out of the current crisis, supported by a wide enough majority to face challenges.
Mattarella called for “a fully operative government, able to fight the pandemic and define a clear plan to deploy European direct aid before Italy loses the opportunity to use the funds.”
Nearly all parties expressed optimism in working together with Draghi, including the opposition euro-skeptic League group often critical of his past ECB leadership. But the 5 Stars Movement, currently part of the ruling coalition, have said they would not back a ‘technocrat’ government headed by Draghi.
If Draghi is successful in rallying support, he is expected to face a confidence vote in parliament before his cabinet is fully operative, where he will need to secure a solid majority. Were the 5 Stars to withdraw support, Draghi could be backed by opposition party Forza Italia and other minor groups including Renzi’s Italia Viva, who triggered the political crisis and ousted outgoing premier Giuseppe Conte.