Mario Draghi’s resignation opens a period of unease in Italy

In a realistic message explaining the difficulties, broadcast across the country on television and radio, the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, announced his decision to dissolve the houses of Parliament and call early general elections on 25 Septemberafter accepting the resignation of Prime Minister Mario Draghi and his government.

The climate surrounding this serious political crisis that led to Draghi’s resignation, is a source of growing concern because political opposition is deepening e The future is full of unknowns, especially for the economic and social problems that Italy is experiencing in the context of an international confrontation that is intensifying between Russia and the West (USA and European countries) following the invasion of Ukraine in a war that drags on and gets worse.

In his speech presenting the growing difficulties that await us, Sergio Mattarella – speaking from the Quirinale Palace, the presidential seat on the highest of the seven hills of Rome – affirmed that “the dissolution of the is always the last option if, as at the moment, in front of the Chambers (Deputies and Senate) there are many issues that must be completed in the interest of our country ”.

“But the political situation that has arisen has led to this decision. The discussion, the vote (of confidence) and its modalities … have made it clear that parliamentary support for the government has decreased and there is no prospect for the creation of a new majority. These conditions made the early dissolution of the Chambers inevitable..

The challenges

The President of the Draghi Council was present at the Palazzo del Quirinale, who attended the signing of the acts for the dissolution of Parliament and the resignation of the government, after the last session of the ministerial cabinet at Palazzo Chigi.

Draghi told reporters that he thanked the members of his cabinet and that everyone they feel “proud of the work they have done”.

Mattarella highlighted in his message that “the period we are going through does not allow breaks in essential interventions to counter the effects of the economic and social crisis, “in particular for the increase in inflation, caused above all by the increase in the cost of energy and food products, which has serious consequences for families and businesses”.

Moments before the presidential address it was reported that Russia had resumed pumping gas through the pipeline with Italywith a reduction in volumes and an impressive increase to 171 euros per megawatt unit.

Mattarella told the Italians that the interventions were above all indispensable for “our fellow citizens in weaker conditions”.

“Essential to face our economic difficulties and their social repercussions. Essential to contain the effects of Russia’s war against Ukraine, in terms of security in Europe and in our country “, she added.

The programs

Mattarella highlighted the “decisive importance” of acting within the time frame agreed by the National Relaunch Plan. This is over $ 200 billion in grants and loans from the European Union at very low interest rates.

Another 55 plans are pending, which will have to be presented shortly before the early elections and which cover another 19 billion euros. It is necessary to fulfill the required requirements and make the legislative changes that prevent them from being fulfilled.

In addition, the president said that “the duty to continue action against the pandemic cannot be ignored”, “which is still dangerously widespread”.

A new wave of infections and deaths has brought the number of deaths in the last week to 170,000 since the start of the pandemic, in February 2020, and to 20 million the number of those infected. one third of the population.

The president asked for “the constructive contribution of everyone in the interest of Italy” and stressed that the gravity of the situation means that “breaks are not possible”. He said that high energy costs “have consequences for households and businesses”.

Finally, he stressed that the resignation of the government, the dissolution of the chambers and the calling of early elections within 70 days, They are always the last act.

PB