Mario Draghi on Saturday obtained preliminary support from two key parties for the formation of a new government that will decide to spend more than 200 billion euros (£ 175 billion) on European Union funds to help recharge the pandemic-ravaged economy .
The populist 5-star movement and the right-wing league have both shown support for a government led by Draghi, saying they are prepared to put aside bitter rivalry for the sake of the country and the potential for a broad government of national unity. to enlarge.
Draghi, 73, the former president of the European Central Bank, completed a first round of talks with political parties this week. Another round is expected early next week on potential cabinet ministers and a synthesis by Draghi on his vision for the new government. He is also expected to meet with trade unions, business lobbyists and other members of civil society.
The president of Italy asked Draghi this week to form a government following the resignation of former Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who had lost support for a small but important coalition party. Before Saturday, Draghi had drawn the support of the Democratic Party, former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia, former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s Italy Live, and the small Free and Equal Party.
After their meetings with Draghi, the 5-star leader, Vito Crimi, and the league leader, Matteo Salvini, talked about action in the interest of Italy, the first western country to be hit hard by the coronavirus. As the economic downturn of the pandemic is still being met, both have acknowledged that they need to put aside political rivalry and betrayal in order to do so.
“We will not forget the actions committed by some political forces, which are present in our memories and in our political committees,” Crimi said, referring to Renzi’s support for Italy Alive from the Conte and Governing coalition. it causes invasion.
Salvini, a former interior minister in Conte’s first government, also noted that he would sit with politicians who voted to lift his parliamentary immunity so that he could be executed in Sicily for not allowing migrant rescue ships went on board in Italy when he was minister. .
“We are ready to overcome everything in the interest of the country,” Crimi said of the 5-star movement, which secured the most votes in the last parliamentary elections in 2018, and an important element of both Conte governments, the first with the Right League and the second with the Left Democratic Party.
Salvini’s attempt to support Draghi brings him into conflict with the far-right party Brothers of Italy and its leader, Giorgia Meloni. She said Friday she will remain in opposition. Salvini mentioned the weight of EU recovery funds needed to resume the Italian economy following a national exclusion and subsequent restrictions on public health.
“I would rather be in the room where it is decided whether the money is being used well or not, instead of being on the outside,” he said.
Crimi said Italy would be judged by its European partners on how it spends the substantial funds, and that the 5-star wants to ensure the money is distributed “with honesty, transparency and in the sole interest of the well-being of its citizens” .
“The world is watching us and will judge whether the country has changed,” Crimi said.
Italian enator Emma Bonino, a former EU commissioner, said she hoped parties from such a broad political spectrum would not come together.
“What we do not want is for this to mean yes, no about it, I can not sit with him,” she told SKY TG24. “The priority must be to complete the vaccination program, because without it the economy can not be restarted, and the plan for EU funds reformed or rewritten.”