- Government parties say the move could lead to elections in the autumn
- 5-Star says struggling Italians need more help
- Draghi ruled out a new government without 5 stars
ROME, July 13 (Reuters) – Italy’s 5 Star Movement will not take part in Thursday’s parliamentary confidence vote, party leader Giuseppe Conte said, in a move that looks likely to bring down Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s government.
Other coalition parties have warned they will quit the government if 5 Star boycotts the vote in the Senate, while Draghi himself said this week he would not lead an administration without Conte’s party.
The Prime Minister’s Office had no immediate comment on Wednesday.
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The 5-star decision plunges Italy into political uncertainty, risks undermining efforts to secure billions of euros in European Union funds and could lead to early national elections in the autumn.
After a day of intense party discussions, Conte announced late on Wednesday that he would not support the confidence motion, saying the government needed to do more to tackle growing social problems in the eurozone’s third-largest economy.
“I very much fear that September will be a time when many families will be faced with the terrible choice of paying their electricity bill or buying food,” he said, referring to the sharp spike in energy costs.
However, he left the door open to further discussions with Draghi to bridge political differences.
“We are absolutely ready to have a dialogue, to give our constructive contribution to the government, to Draghi, (but) we are not willing to write a blank check,” he said.
The prime minister said on Tuesday that if 5-Star stopped supporting the government, President Sergio Mattarella would decide what to do next. Read more
However, Draghi, a former president of the European Central Bank, also said he would not want to lead a new government without 5 stars in the cabinet.
ELECTION INVITATION
Two coalition parties, the right-wing League and the center-left Democratic Party (PD), said on Wednesday that early elections were the most likely outcome if the government collapsed.
“If a coalition party doesn’t support a government decree, that’s enough, it seems clear that we have to go to elections,” League leader Matteo Salvini said.
The vote is due to take place in the first half of 2023. Shifting the ballot to autumn would be highly unusual for Italy because that is when governments traditionally prepare their budgets, which must be approved by the end of the year.
Mattarella asked Draghi to form a national unity coalition in early 2020 to help the country overcome the COVID pandemic, and convinced almost all parties across the political spectrum to participate.
The 5 Star Movement has seen its support sink over the past year as it has struggled to establish a clear identity for itself. Seeking to boost her profile, she has complained for weeks about the government’s priorities and has pushed for more generous financial relief for struggling families and continued funding of a welfare program she supports for poor Italians.
Wednesday’s vote of confidence covers a cost-of-living aid package worth around 26 billion euros. It also includes a provision that would allow the city of Rome to build a giant trash incinerator, a project 5-Star has always opposed.
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Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte and Angelo Amante Writing by Crispian Ballmer, Gavin Jones and Keith Weir Editing by Angus McSwan and Rosalba O’Brien
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