NEWNow you can listen to the articles from Fox News!
Italy’s fragile ruling coalition appeared to have been shattered after Prime Minister Mario Draghi resigned on Thursday. The Associated Press reported that his offer came following the refusal of one of his coalition members not to support a bill that would help ease financial pressure on consumers and industries struggling with the rise. of energy prices.
Hours after his offer to step down, Italian President Sergio Mattarella turned down the offer and asked Draghi to return to Parliament and try to muster enough votes to remain as prime minister.
With President Sergio Mattarella’s rejection of his resignation, the next big test for Draghi’s survival is next week, when he will have a chance to take one last step to lawmakers before the vote of confidence is held.
Draghi, who has been in power since February 2021, made the announcement after narrowly surviving the confidence vote earlier this week.
The Five Star Movement – a populist party that enjoyed widespread success before souring voter support with political changes – refused to take part in the vote. Draghi has said several times that he would step down if he lost Five Star support.
“Tonight I will give my resignation to the president of the republic,” Draghi told his cabinet. “The coalition of national unity that supported this government no longer exists.”
LOOK AT THE PHOTOS: PELOSI HITS THE ITALIAN BEACH ON A LUXURY HOLIDAY WHILE HUSBAND FACES DUI CHARGES
ROME, ITALY – JULY 12: Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi during the press conference at the Prime Minister’s Multifunctional Hall on July 12, 2022 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Massimo Di Vita / Massimo Di Vita Archive / Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images)
The Five Star’s refusal to participate in the vote raised eyebrows, with some party members saying it was not a reflection on the government, but rather a matter of domestic politics and disagreement.
“Today we are not taking part in the vote on this measure … but this position of ours is not about trust in the government,” said the leader of the Five Stars in the Senate Mariolina Castellone before the vote.
Despite keeping his majority five-starless, Draghi took disapproval as a death knell for his cabinet.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, GERMANY – JUNE 28: Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi speaks to the media on the third and final day of the G7 Summit at Schloss Elmau on June 28, 2022 near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. The leaders of the G7 group of nations have officially met under the motto: “progress towards a fair world” and will discuss global issues including war, climate change, hunger, poverty and health. The ongoing Russian war in Ukraine is overshadowing this year’s summit. (Photo by Sean Gallup / Getty Images)
Italy is only the latest country that is facing radical challenges for the current policy of the order.
President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country on Wednesday, just days after thousands of protesters stormed his residence amid the nation’s crippling economic crisis.
Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had both agreed to step down, with the president’s resignation taking effect Wednesday. Wickremesinghe said he will step down once a new government takes office, but protesters are calling for an immediate resignation.
In Japan, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated last week after being shot in the back by a deranged gunman who was angry about the time Abe was in office.
Italy has had six different prime ministers since 2011, including Giuseppe Conte who served two different mandates from 2018 to 2021.
The Associated Press e contributed to this report.
