The resignation of Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has been accepted by President Sergio Mattarella, who stated that Draghi will stay on in a caretaker role to address ongoing issues. This marks Draghi’s second resignation attempt in July, and it will be observed as a critical moment in Italy’s political landscape (attribution: Reuters).
Draghi has led the Italian government since February 13, 2021, taking over from Giuseppe Conte. He explained his decision by noting that the national unity supporting the government since its formation no longer existed, a point he framed as the core reason for stepping down (attribution: Reuters).
The catalyst was the refusal of the Five Star Movement, a central pillar of the ruling coalition, to participate in a confidence vote in the Senate. This move was interpreted as a withdrawal from the parliamentary majority. In addition, the right-wing groups Forward Italy and the League did not take part in the vote. Although the cabinet trusted the outcome, the absence of a robust turnout effectively undermined the government’s stability, leading to its collapse (attribution: Reuters).
Ukraine policy, economic strain, and coalition tensions
The Five Star Movement has differences with the government on several key points, notably on Ukraine support. On July 13, Conte, the former prime minister and leader of the movement, indicated that his group would not back the next package of social and economic assistance, calling the measures insufficient. He accused coalition partners of attempting to sabotage previously approved initiatives and urged reconsideration of arms supplies to Ukraine in favor of pursuing a diplomatic resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict (attribution: Reuters).
The proposed aid package, valued at 26 billion euros, was intended to help households grapple with inflation and rising energy costs. Five Star opposed the plan in part because of proposals to build a waste incineration plant near Rome and in part because of broader social spending demands that the movement favored (attribution: Reuters).
In response to the Five Star pushback, Matteo Renzi, head of a centrist faction, described Conte’s comments as a political acting exercise meant to rally supporters rather than reflect policy substance (attribution: Reuters).
Fractures within the coalition
Disagreements over Ukraine policy widened gaps not only within the government but also within the Five Star Movement itself. On June 21, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio announced his departure from the party, accusing Conte of weakening the country’s stance on Ukraine and diminishing Rome’s standing within the European Union (attribution: Reuters).
Di Maio asserted that Italy faced a choice about its historical alignment, emphasizing whether to side with Ukraine or with Russia. He argued that some leaders in the Five Star group risked undermining Italy’s position in Europe (attribution: Reuters).
Subsequently, Di Maio proposed establishing a new parliamentary group to back the Draghi government. Media outlets in Italy reported that roughly 60 deputies joined him, signaling a significant rift that reduced the party’s parliamentary strength by more than a quarter (attribution: Reuters).
Support for Ukraine and ongoing sanctions
On June 21, Draghi affirmed the effectiveness of EU sanctions on Russia and reiterated that the Council of Ministers would continue to support Ukraine in line with parliamentary directives (attribution: Reuters).
By June 28, Draghi stressed Italy’s readiness to sustain assistance to Kyiv, even as Russian gains in the war raised concerns. He noted that while there were doubts about continued successes, they did not justify halting support for Ukraine (attribution: Reuters).
Draghi’s resignation came amid what observers described as the fourth governmental crisis in the European Union in the span of a month, a period that also saw leadership changes in Britain, Estonia, and Bulgaria, underscoring a broader regional volatility (attribution: Reuters).