Italy’s parliament starts voting for president in wide-open race

Rome, Jan. 24 (BNA) The Italian parliament will start voting on Monday to choose a new head of state, with Prime Minister Mario Draghi among the leading candidates in a wide-open competition that will be closely watched by financial markets.

Reuters reports that there are concerns among politicians in Italy that the outcome could spark new political uncertainty in the euro zone’s third-largest economy, which is facing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases and deaths.

In a process that could take several days, more than 1,000 parliamentarians and regional representatives will meet at 1400 GMT for the first round of secret voting to replace outgoing Italian President Sergio Mattarella. Read more

The winner needs a two-thirds majority in any of the first three rounds, with a sufficient absolute majority thereafter.

Draghi, who leads the National Unity Administration, made it clear that he would like the 7-year position. But there is a reluctance among some parties to support him, fearing that his departure will lead to political unrest and early elections.

“In this difficult moment, it would be dangerous to remove Draghi as prime minister,” said right-wing League leader Matteo Salvini on Sunday, echoing similar comments made by his coalition partner Berlusconi.

With neither the center-right nor the center-left having enough votes to force a candidate from their camp, a compromise will likely be needed to prevent a stalemate.

Silvio Berlusconi withdrew from the race on Saturday, removing an obstacle to talks between the parties. The center left had ruled out the support of the former prime minister, who is unlikely to garner the broad support it traditionally needs. Read more

If Draghi becomes head of state, an agreement on another prime minister will be needed immediately to ensure instability is not jeopardized by Italy’s bid to receive some 200 billion euros ($226.80 billion) in pandemic relief money from the European Union.

With uncertainty prevailing, the center-left Democratic Party (PD) is considering casting a blank vote on the first ballot, while its allies in the Five Star Movement have yet to decide on a strategy.

Since Berlusconi’s withdrawal, the center-right parties have not put forward any alternative proposals, but Salvini said the coalition is ready to offer several “prominent” names to negotiate.

Possible candidates include former House Speaker Pier Ferdinando Cassini, former Prime Minister Giuliano Amato and Senate President Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati.

Mattarella has ruled out accepting him for another term, but some politicians have suggested pleading with him to continue, leaving Draghi as prime minister until the next elections in Italy in early 2023.

MI