Mario Draghi has officially resigned. After a brief but emotional passage to the Chamber, the Premier went up to the Quirinale and handed in his resignation to the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. The Head of State “has taken note of it. The Government remains in office for handling of current affairs”, reads the press release from the Quirinale.
The resignation of Mario Draghi
After 17 months of Government in which he managed to bring Italy back to the center of the European political scene, to carry out the electoral campaign successfully, to write the Pnrr, achieving all the objectives foreseen up to now, to close important energy contracts that considerably reduce the dependence of the Italy from Russia, Mario Draghi's adventure at Palazzo Chigi ends here, sunk by crossfire of Lega, Forza Italia and Movimento 5 Stelle.
The backlash in the parties: Brunetta leaves Forza Italia
An obligatory decision, that of resignation, which came later a crazy day in the Senate in which the two center-right parties and the movement led by Giuseppe Conte did not participate in the vote of confidence on the Premier's communications, ending the legislature early without however having the courage to vote openly against. A choice which, even within the parties, is causing the first earthquakes. The pentastellati risk yet another rift, while Forza Italia loses important pieces. The Minister for Regional Affairs, Mariastella Gelmini, and the Minister of Public Administration, Renato Brunettaleft the party, harshly criticizing the line dictated by Silvio Berlusconi. “By not voting Draghi's trust, Forza Italia has betrayed its history and its values. It's not me who's leaving, it's Forza Italia who's leaving itself," said Brunetta.
IDraghi's moved thanks to the Chamber
At 9 this morning, Thursday 21 July, the Premier arrived in the Chamber, greeted by thunderous applause from the ministers and all the deputies, including those belonging to the parties that forced him to leave.
“In the light of the vote expressed yesterday evening by the Senate of the Republic, I ask that the session be suspended because I'm on my way to the President of the Republic to communicate my determinations”, said Draghi who then, very moved, thanked the House for the long applause that was bestowed on him. “Even bankers use their hearts…”, said the Prime Minister making a joking reference to the joke about the banker's heart "never used" that he had told in the meeting with the foreign press a few days ago.
What happens after Draghi's resignation?
The Government will remain in office until the elections for the so-called "current affairs”, that is to say, to ensure business as usual until new elections are held. During this period, he will not be able to approve decree laws, make appointments, or make reforms.
The ball has passed into the hands of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. He will decide whether and when it comes to elections. The Quirinale has already communicated that the Head of State will receive the presidents of the Chambers, Roberto Fico and Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati in the afternoon. Subsequently - according to the process - there should be consultations with the parties, but in all likelihood Mattarella will decide to skip this step, sdirectly dissolving the Chambers and calling early elections. According to forecasts, the vote should be held between 25 September and 9 October. However, since September 25 is the eve of the Jewish New Year, the most probable date seems to be October 2. However, there is a problem: the budget law which must be presented to the Chambers by 15 October.
It will be, among other things, the first time in the history of the Republic that we will go to vote in the autumn. Let the summer election campaign begin.
