BBC
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi is to resign hours after populist coalition partner Five Star withdrew its support in a major confidence vote.
The former head of the European Central Bank has led a unity government since February 2021.
In a statement, he said the pact of trust that had sustained the unity government had gone.
“I will hand my resignation to the president of the republic this evening,” he said.
The crisis in the EU’s third biggest economy was triggered when Five Star leader Giuseppe Conte refused to back the government’s €23bn (£19.5bn) package of economic aid for families and businesses, arguing Mr Draghi was not doing enough to tackle the cost of living crisis.
Even though the government comfortably won Thursday’s vote in the Senate, the prime minister had warned repeatedly that without Five Star’s support the government could not continue.
Dubbed “Super Mario”, he went to see President Sergio Mattarella and, after reflecting on his future, issued his statement of resignation.
“Today’s votes in Parliament are very significant from a political point of view. The national unity majority that supported this government since its creation no longer exists,” he said.
Elections were already due early in 2023 but Mr Draghi’s resignation means they are likely to be brought forward to the autumn.
Right up to the Senate vote, attempts were made to resolve the crisis. Milan’s stock market tumbled 3% as nervousness spread to investors…
