Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi (File image)
Photo : AP
The development came after negotiations to find common ground failed, reported AFP. It intensified the political crisis in the country. The confidence vote was called by Draghi in the upper house of the parliament. Last week, Draghi survived a no-confidence vote in the Italian Senate. However, the populist 5-Star Movement (5SM) boycotted the vote.
Notably, Draghi is the PM since the election of Parliament, in 2018. In case the Italian President accepts Draghi’s resignation, it will lead to early elections later this year. Parliament’s five-year term expires in March. Draghi became the Prime Minister in February last year. He took over from Giuseppe Conte, the 5-Star leader.
Draghi was given the responsibility to carry out the reforms so that Italy could get the European Union’s largest tranche of the post-COVID-19 pandemic funds. However, High inflation and skyrocketing energy costs are hurting the industry. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Italy took a strong pro-EU line. Draghi backed the EU’s sanctions against Russia and military aid for Ukraine.
