ROME – Mario Draghi, the former head of the European Central Bank who is largely credited with helping save the euro, accepted a mandate from the Italian president on Wednesday to try to form a new unity government that would lead the country out of the pandemic and through economic recovery.
“To overcome the pandemic, to complete the vaccination campaign, to provide answers to the citizens’ daily problems, to revitalize the country, are the challenges we face,” said Mr Draghi after a meeting. with President Sergio Mattarella for more than an hour at the Quirinal Palace.
Italy, he said, was facing “a difficult time”. And he said that he was Mr. Mattarella had accepted because the emergency “requires an answer equal to the seriousness of the situation”.
Until Tuesday, Mr Draghi’s idea of replacing Giuseppe Conte as Prime Minister remained a dream for the many Italians frustrated by a government coalition that seemed paralyzed by ideological schisms and incompetence, especially as the coronavirus pandemic raged and economic devastation struck. in.
But on Tuesday evening, Mr. Mattarella mr. Draghi and appealed to “all political forces in parliament” to support a “prominent government” to meet the historic moment.
He made it clear that Mr Conte’s tenure was over and that the new players, possibly political leaders proposed by the parties that supported Mr Draghi, or an all-star cast of politically unaffiliated economists, judges and scientists, were ready to take the stage.
The Italian stock market recovered on Wednesday in response to news that Mr Draghi was in line to lead the Italian government. He immediately began consultations with party leaders that will continue for the next few days in an effort to form a new Italian government.
“I am convinced that from the exchange with the parties and the political groups in Parliament and from the dialogue with the social forces,” said Mr Draghi on Wednesday, “there will be unity and the ability to provide a responsible response to give up on the appeal. “
Mr. Draghi is not a political novice himself. He has served in former Italian governments, was director of the Italian Treasury and knows the mechanisms of government well at both European and Italian levels.
His name has been mentioned for years as a possible candidate to replace Mr Mattarella as Italy’s head of state in 2022. But now, Mr. Mattarella has himself appealed to Mr. Draghi, whom he has publicly praised in the past, and brought him directly into the fray.
“Now everyone of good will must heed President Mattarella’s call and support Mario Draghi’s government,” Matteo Renzi, the devious former prime minister who brought about the collapse of Mr Conte’s government through the support of his small party in to revoke parliament. “Now is the time for sobriety.”
Party leaders on the right and left quickly expressed support for Mr Draghi after it became clear that Mr Mattarella would ask him to form a government.
They included leaders who had widely shown their loyalty to Mr. Conte. Nicola Zingaretti, the Democratic Party leader Mr Renzi once led, issued a statement that on the one hand referred to the government crisis as a “disaster caused by the irresponsible choice” of Mr Renzi, but he welcomed the decision of Mr Mattarella. “We will be ready to discuss the public interest for the country.”
A government headed by Mr. Draghi can come into being in two different ways. If he manages to gain broad parliamentary support, he can rule from one strong position to the next planned elections in 2023.
If he fails to garner enough political support, Mr. Mattarella could nevertheless make him head of a limited-scope transitional government – likely focused on the roll-out of vaccines and the management of more than $ 200 billion, or about $ 240 billion, in emergency funds from Europe – before leading the country to early elections.
“We have the extraordinary resources of the European Union available,” said Mr Draghi on Wednesday in a clearly pro-European sign. “We have the opportunity to do a lot for our country with a good eye for the future for young generations and to strengthen social unity.”
Mr Mattarella explicitly said on Tuesday evening that he has no interest in new elections. So does Mr Renzi, who polls about two percent, or the Five Star Movement, which has the largest bloc in parliament but would likely be decimated in elections by its nationalist opponents.
Five Star leaders initially expressed opposition to Mr Draghi, but on Wednesday it became increasingly clear that it was far from a unified position within the party that seemed to be falling apart.
Even the political forces calling for new elections had suddenly calmed down with the arrival of Mr. Draghi.
“We are a responsible party and we will not say no out of hand,” said Riccardo Molinari, a Member of Parliament for the League’s nationalist party led by Matteo Salvini who, according to opinion polls, would benefit the most from early elections.
But Mr. Salvini must also protect his right flank. If he is seen as too receptive to Mr Draghi, who is the personification of the European Union that Mr Salvini has raged against for years, other right-wing politicians are eager to take his place.
“I don’t think the solution to the country’s serious health, economic and social problems is yet another government born in the palace,” Giorgia Meloni, leader of the post-fascist Brothers of Italy party wrote on Twitter. “Instead, we think it is definitely better to give Italians the opportunity to vote.”
In one fell swoop, Mr. Mattarella’s decision to bring in Mr. Draghi has the potential to reset Italian politics, many of which commentators have complained about being unable to rule in a national emergency.
“To think that the most anti-European parliament in Italy’s history could crown Draghi as prime minister and head of state today gives an impression of the miracle that Sergio Mattarella has accomplished in these years,” said Claudio Cerasa, the editor of Il Foglio. newspaper, wrote Wednesday.