Super Mario Draghi accepts mandate to form new Italian government
EU Debates | eudebates.tv
2021-02-06
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Former ECB chief summoned by President Mattarella after collapse of Conte’s coalition in January. https://www.eudebates.tv/ Mario Draghi, the former European Central Bank chief, has accepted a mandate to try to form a new Italian government as the country seeks a way out of the political crisis triggered by the collapse of its most recent coalition.
#eudebates #Italy #Draghi
Draghi, nicknamed “Super Mario” for his role in saving the European single currency, will have to galvanise support in parliament to quickly build a technical administration needed to manage the coronavirus pandemic and revive its battered economy.
Draghi was summoned on Wednesday to meet Italy’s president, Sergio Mattarella, after ruling coalition partners failed to form a majority following Giuseppe Conte’s resignation as prime minister last week.
“I thank the president of the republic for the trust he has placed in me,” Draghi said in a brief speech after the meeting. “Overcoming the pandemic, completing the vaccination campaign, responding to the needs of citizens and relaunching the country are our challenges. We have extraordinary resources coming from the EU and we can do a lot for the future of the country.”
Italy is poised to receive over €200bn from the EU’s recovery fund – the largest share among member states.
Milan’s stock exchange made gains in early trading on Wednesday after news of the meeting between Mattarella and Draghi was confirmed the previous evening. Mattarella ruled out calling early elections, adding that a “high profile” technical government was needed to steer the country.
The crisis was triggered when the former prime minister Matteo Renzi withdrew his small Italia Viva party from the ruling majority in January due to clashes over the government’s handling of the pandemic and the spending plan for the recovery fund money. Renzi, whose party did not support the formation of a new majority under Conte, has repeatedly suggested Draghi as the ideal person to lead a new government.
“Now is the time for sobriety,” he wrote on Facebook. “No more polemics. Long live Italy.”
Draghi said on Wednesday he was confident “unity will emerge” from dialogue with political parties and parliamentary groups. However, it is unclear whether he will win the broad support needed from political forces.
The Five Star Movement (M5S), the biggest party in parliament, said it would not back a technical administration led by Draghi, arguing that a political government was the only solution. The populist party emerged as a powerful force in part as a reaction to Italy’s last technocratic government.
Nicola Zingaretti, the leader of the centre-left Democratic party, said he would meet leaders of M5S and Free and Equal, a small leftwing group in the alliance. “Draghi’s appointment opens up a new phase that could lead the country out of the uncertainty created by an irresponsible and absurd crisis,” he said.
#eudebates #Italy #Draghi
Draghi, nicknamed “Super Mario” for his role in saving the European single currency, will have to galvanise support in parliament to quickly build a technical administration needed to manage the coronavirus pandemic and revive its battered economy.
Draghi was summoned on Wednesday to meet Italy’s president, Sergio Mattarella, after ruling coalition partners failed to form a majority following Giuseppe Conte’s resignation as prime minister last week.
“I thank the president of the republic for the trust he has placed in me,” Draghi said in a brief speech after the meeting. “Overcoming the pandemic, completing the vaccination campaign, responding to the needs of citizens and relaunching the country are our challenges. We have extraordinary resources coming from the EU and we can do a lot for the future of the country.”
Italy is poised to receive over €200bn from the EU’s recovery fund – the largest share among member states.
Milan’s stock exchange made gains in early trading on Wednesday after news of the meeting between Mattarella and Draghi was confirmed the previous evening. Mattarella ruled out calling early elections, adding that a “high profile” technical government was needed to steer the country.
The crisis was triggered when the former prime minister Matteo Renzi withdrew his small Italia Viva party from the ruling majority in January due to clashes over the government’s handling of the pandemic and the spending plan for the recovery fund money. Renzi, whose party did not support the formation of a new majority under Conte, has repeatedly suggested Draghi as the ideal person to lead a new government.
“Now is the time for sobriety,” he wrote on Facebook. “No more polemics. Long live Italy.”
Draghi said on Wednesday he was confident “unity will emerge” from dialogue with political parties and parliamentary groups. However, it is unclear whether he will win the broad support needed from political forces.
The Five Star Movement (M5S), the biggest party in parliament, said it would not back a technical administration led by Draghi, arguing that a political government was the only solution. The populist party emerged as a powerful force in part as a reaction to Italy’s last technocratic government.
Nicola Zingaretti, the leader of the centre-left Democratic party, said he would meet leaders of M5S and Free and Equal, a small leftwing group in the alliance. “Draghi’s appointment opens up a new phase that could lead the country out of the uncertainty created by an irresponsible and absurd crisis,” he said.
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