2 confidence votes on Wednesday set to decide fate of Draghi government

By Giada Zampano

ROME (AA) – Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi faces two confidence votes on Wednesday – first in the Senate and then in the Lower House – which are set to decide the survival of his moribund coalition government.

Draghi will address the chambers ahead of the votes, as requested by President Sergio Mattarella, who rejected the premier’s resignation last week, following a fatal fracture among the litigious ruling partners.

The crisis exploded on Thursday after lawmakers from the 5-Star Movement – one of the key coalition parties – walked out of the Senate ahead of a critical vote on key government measures.

While the situation remains fluid, there are two main scenarios that remain in place ahead of Wednesday’s votes: Draghi can stay as premier – as many politicians in Italy and abroad are calling for – or Mattarella would be forced to call early elections for fall.

The other possible option, which would entail the creation of a new government with a new prime minister supported by a different coalition, looks increasingly unlikely due to the growing divisions among Italian parties.

Draghi has openly said that he would not govern with a different coalition that does not include the 5-Stars. The unruly party has been locked in internal talks since the start of the crisis, but seems increasingly divided.

In the confidence votes on Wednesday, a relevant group of 5-Star lawmakers seem to be ready to defect to support the Draghi government. That could convince Draghi to give it another try, and stay as prime minister with the same parliamentary majority.

If instead Draghi reiterates his resignation, Mattarella will have few other options besides dissolving parliament and calling early polls. In that case, elections could be held between the end of September and the beginning of October, and Draghi could be asked by Mattarella to stay as interim premier until then.

Draghi, a former head of the European Central Bank, has served as Italy's prime minister since February 2021.