Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said he would resign after a party in his ruling coalition did not participate in a vote of confidence.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi | Reuters
Mario Draghi said he would resign as Italian prime minister on Thursday after a party in his ruling coalition did not participate in a vote of confidence.
According to a statement released by his office, Draghi told the cabinet, “I will submit my resignation to the President of the Republic this evening.”
“The national unity coalition that supported this government no longer exists,” the former president of the European Central Bank, who has been prime minister of a broad coalition since February 2021, said.
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The trust vote had become a focal point of tension within Draghi’s government as its parties prepare to fight each other in a national election due in early 2023.
A decision by the 5-star party to boycott a trust vote on Thursday plunged Italy into political uncertainty and dented efforts to secure billions of euros in EU funds, tackle a damaging drought and reduce dependence on Russian gas. had weakened.
Draghi raised the stakes, saying he would not want to lead a government without 5-Star, which emerged as the single largest party in the last election in 2018 but has since suffered defection and loss of public support.
Other coalition parties said a vote should be held if the 5-Star government did not support it, followed by national elections in September or early October.
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