What’s Going On? Italy Prime Minister Resigns One Week After PM of UK Resigns

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Just one week after Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson resigned, Italy’s Prime Minister has also announced he will resign.

Italy’s Prime Minister  Mario Draghi officially announced his resignation after Italy’s5-Star movement, one of the largest parties in the coalition government decided to not vote in a parliamentary confidence vote.

Draghi’s resignation comes at a bizarre time considering Japan’s Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was recently assassinated and UK’s prime minister also suddenly resigned without any subtle warning.

Italian prime minister Mario Draghi announces his resignation. He played a crucial role in ensuring Italy's delivery of weapons to Ukraine and rallied other leaders around supporting Ukraine's EU candidacy bid. Yet another bad news for Ukraine in the end of this terrible day

— Olga Tokariuk (@olgatokariuk) July 14, 2022

BREAKING: Mario Draghi, The Prime Minister of Italy, says he will resign

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) July 14, 2022

CNN had these details to report:

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said he would resign later Thursday after the 5-Star movement, the largest party in the coalition government, withdrew its support in a parliamentary confidence vote.

Despite the 5-Star boycott, Draghi’s measures passed by 172 to 39. However, it left the government at real risk of collapse and could lead to an early election.
“I want to announce that this evening I will present my resignation to the President of the Republic,” Draghi said in a statement.

“Today’s votes in Parliament are very significant from a political point of view. The majority of national unity that has supported this government since its creation is no longer there,” he added.

Draghi was appointed Prime Minister if Italy in 2021 to help the country recover from the Covid-19 crisis. He was seen as a safe pair of hands that would be able to responsibly use the European Union’s Covid recovery funds. Draghi had previously served as President of the European Central Bank from 2011 to 2019. Upon taking the job he appointed a cabinet comprising of people from a wide range of Italy’s political parties.

Italian PM Mario Draghi announces his resignation after government loses backing of populist coalition partner https://t.co/4SVgFDRp1w

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) July 14, 2022

BBC had these details to add:

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has tendered his resignation after populist coalition partner Five Star withdrew its support in a confidence vote.

The former head of the European Central Bank has led a unity government since February 2021.

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In a statement, he said the pact of trust that had sustained the unity government had gone.

However, the president refused to accept his resignation.

President Sergio Mattarella appointed Mr Draghi – a former ECB chief – to lead Italy’s post-Covid pandemic recovery and save the country from endemic instability.

The president has called on Mr Draghi to address parliament to provide a clear picture of the political situation.

The effect of President Mattarella’s intervention is unclear, but Mr Draghi is unlikely to address parliament before next Wednesday. Italy now faces a period of political uncertainty, which could jeopardise its efforts to tackle the energy crisis and secure EU funding.

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