Another government crisis hits a European country. After Macron lost his majority in France and Boris Johnson had to resign in Britain, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi may soon be finished. It opens the door to a far more right-wing radical, pro-Russian and EU-critical Italy. SURROUNDED: Leader of the populist party Five Star Movement Giuseppe Conte speaks to a sea of reporters after a meeting with Mario Draghi on July 6. Photo: Mauro Scrobogna / AP Wobbly cooperation in uncertain times On Thursday night, Prime Minister Mario Draghi asked the president to be allowed to resign. On the same day, the government party Femstjernersbevegelsen did not vote for a rescue package for those affected by the economic crisis. They think the package is too bad. HUNGRY: People are queuing outside a free food distribution center in Milan on June 14 this year. In the last 30 years, the income of the Italians has not had any real growth. Photo: FLAVIO LO SCALZO / Reuters As in other countries, the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the ensuing economic crisis have gradually created greater gaps between the political parties. Draghi and the Five Star Movement also strongly disagree on weapons aid to Ukraine. – The national unit on which this government has been built since its inception no longer exists, the Prime Minister told his Council of Ministers on Thursday. President Sergio Mattarella refused to approve the resignation. He believes Draghi can still form a government, probably now without the Five Star Movement. ECONOMY: The then head of the European Central Bank Mario Draghi attends his first press conference in that role in November 2011. Photo: Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters The rescuer “Super Mario” Draghi was nicknamed “Super Mario” for the way he steadily led Europe out of the financial crisis as Governor of the European Central Bank. He also became Italy’s savior in February last year. No one seemed to be able to lead the coalition government to the outgoing Giuseppe Conte in February. Then Draghi stepped in as prime minister. He has had a difficult job, balancing between both the center party, the outer right party and the elite-critical Five Star Movement. Now Draghi seems to have lost the ability to bind these vastly different forces together. SHOCKED: The leader of the Northern League Matteo Salvini reacts to the result of the no-confidence motion against Draghi in the Senate in Italy, 14 July. Photo: ANDREAS SOLARO / AFP Distrust proposal and possible new election Although the disagreements are big, the leader of the Five Star Movement, Giuseppe Conte, says that he still supports Draghi. This despite the fact that the party failed to vote for Draghi in the previous no-confidence motion on Thursday. President Mattarella thus asked Draghi to give a speech to the National Assembly where he can set a new course for Italy. After that, a no-confidence motion will be filed against Draghi on Wednesday next week. If Draghi does not get enough support, as it looks now, there are two likely outcomes: Draghi survives the no-confidence motion, but without support from key parties. Then there will probably be new elections this autumn, before the planned time in June 2023. Draghi asks to resign again and refuses to lead a new administration. Then the president must call for new elections. Many now believe the result will be a far more EU-critical, pro-Russian and right-wing Italy. SMILES: Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov smile together in Moscow in February 2022, just over a week before the war in Ukraine broke out. Photo: Shamil Zhumatov / AP Radical wave Since the end of the 2010s, several radical parties have emerged in Italy: Italy’s brothers Italian name: “Fratelli d’Italia” The nationalist right-wing radical party is led by Giorgia Meloni, and is very critical of the EU and immigration . Until recently, the party had a very pro-Russian profile, but has since turned to supporting Ukraine and NATO. Is now the largest political party in Italy, if you follow the polls. So far this year, they have grown from 20 to 23 percent support. Now has 37 representatives in the National Assembly and 21 in the Senate. The Northern League Italian name: “Lega Nord” A regional party in the important regions of Veneto and Lombardy. The party led by Matteo Salvini fronts independence for northern Italy, federalism, EU skepticism and an otherwise right-wing radical policy. Since the beginning of the year, the Lega has gone from 19 to 15 percent support in the polls. and has 60 senators. The Five Star MovementItalian name: «Movimento 5 Stelle» Strong EU skeptics and elite critics. At the same time, they front several environmental protection issues, and support, among other things, direct democracy and a strengthening of social benefits. Since the beginning of the year, the movement has gradually decreased from 14 to 11 percent support in the polls. largest in the National Assembly with 105 representatives. In total, EU-critical parties now have 52 percent support in the polls. Probably a new election would thus lead to weakened EU cooperation, writes Politico. Several of these parties have also shown less willingness to support Ukraine. If they do well, measures such as phasing out Russian gas and weapons aid will be less relevant. Admittedly, the Social Democratic Party PD and the center-right party of Silvio Berlusconi, “Forza Italia” together have relatively broad support. They have 22 and 8 percent support in the population, respectively. It is enough to become indispensable in a majority government and to get through proposals in parliament. They can thus become a brake on the plans of the more radical parties.
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“Super Mario”‘s departure may open the door for Italy’s far right and EU critics – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
