Italian premier to resign amid coalition crisis

By Giada Zampano

ROME (AA) - Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi announced that he would resign on Thursday after the 5-Star Movement, a party in his ruling coalition, withdrew its support for the government, sparking a political crisis.

The 5-Stars walked out of a key confidence vote in the country's Senate earlier on Thursday, forcing the premier to acknowledge the irreversible collapse of the coalition.

"I want to announce that this evening, I will tender my resignation in the hands of the President of the Republic. Today's vote in parliament is a very significant event from a political point of view," Draghi said in a statement.

"The national unity majority that has supported this government since its creation doesn't exist anymore," he added.

Draghi also said that he attempted to keep the government together and meet some of the 5-Stars' demands.

He underlined that he was committed to leading the government only if able to pursue policies that lawmakers had voted for, including economic support for households and businesses, a condition now impossible to meet without a legislative majority.

President Sergio Mattarella could still ask him to call another confidence vote in parliament to test for sure whether this majority survives.

If such a vote fails, the president could consider creating another transitional government to lead Italy to new elections in early 2023.

The prospect of early elections in the fall remains a possibility, but conflicts with the need of having a government in place to draft a crucial budget law amid harsh economic difficulties for families and businesses.