Draghi tasked with forming a technocratic government in Italy
The President of the Republic of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, will entrust the former president of the European Central Bank (ECB) Mario Draghi on Wednesday with the formation of a technocratic government at a time of emergency due to the pandemic and after noting that there is no majority for a political executive, although some groups have already expressed their opposition.
Mattarella summoned "Super Mario", as the former governor of the Bank of Italy is known, at midday today, following the inability to reach an agreement between the former government partners: the anti-establishment 5 Star Movement (M5S), and the progressive Democratic Party (PD) and Free and Equal (LeU) in the face of Matteo Renzi's Italia Viva's veto to reissue an Executive presided over by Giuseppe Conte.
After noting the failure of the negotiations, the head of state explained that he had two alternatives: to call elections, which he considered irresponsible given the current economic, social and health crisis, or "to call on all the political forces present in Parliament to give confidence to a high-profile government, which should not be identified with any political formula".
A solution reminiscent of the one adopted in November 2011 by the then head of state, Giorgio Napolitano, when the economic crisis forced the resignation of Silvio Berlusconi and a government of technocrats headed by Mario Monti, who also served as interim minister of economy and finance, was chosen.
After receiving the mandate, Draghi will have to open consultations with political parties to find out what support he will have in parliament.
The first to welcome the head of state's decision was Matteo Renzi, who had always advocated this solution after opening the political crisis by withdrawing his confidence in the government. "We listened to the wise words of the President of the Republic Mattarella. Once again we recognise ourselves in his leadership. And we will act accordingly," he wrote on Facebook.
PD secretary general Nicola Zingaretti announced that they will be ready to "guarantee the common good of the country" and praised Mattarella's initiative which "fills a vacuum created by an incomprehensible crisis".
But Vito Crimi, the political leader of the M5S, the party with the largest parliamentary representation, said he would not vote for the birth of a technocratic government headed by Mario Draghi.
One of the most charismatic members of the M5S, Alessandro Di Battista, expressed his displeasure by revisiting an article he had written on the possibility of an executive with Draghi in which he defines the former ECB governor as "the apostle of the elite".
From the right, the leader of Brothers of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, criticised Mattarella's "manoeuvre": "He considers it more appropriate to bet on a government that for two years will find it very difficult to find effective solutions for Italians. We, on the other hand, think it is much better to give Italians the opportunity to vote, to have a cohesive and strong majority".
And League leader Matteo Salvini mentioned the article of the Constitution underlining that "sovereignty belongs to the people", but left the door open to support by explaining "that they will decide without prejudice" if Draghi handcuffs his proposals.
From the outset, Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia has been open to a unity executive in the face of the critical moment the country is going through, and the three-time president will not be able to reject Draghi, whom he has always shown his appreciation.
