ROME ( Associated Press) – Calls were mounting in Italy on Sunday to persuade Prime Minister Mario Draghi to stay in office rather than resign as he attempted to do after withdrawing his support from the coalition last week .
Hundreds of mayors have signed an open letter. Sangh leaders and industrialists, who often oppose the agenda, have come together to pressure Draghi to continue ruling. Italy and other European countries are facing high energy costs, high inflation, a surge in COVID-19 cases and a war in Ukraine. Apart from this, there is a severe drought in Italy.
As of Sunday afternoon, three days after populist senators of the 5 Star Movement boycotted a trust vote involving the government energy relief bill, more than 80,000 citizens signed “Draghi Stay”, an online petition launched by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. had done.
“Let’s do everything we can to bring Draghi back to Chigi Palace (Prime Minister’s Office),” Renzi tweeted.
The mayors cited the problems of ordinary citizens as some of the “good reasons” why Draghi should remain. Financial markets see the former head of the European Central Bank as a pillar of strong financial governance for Italy, which is receiving billions in pandemic recovery funding from the European Union.
His staunch support for Ukraine, including sending military aid despite complaints from populists, earned him statesman status in Europe.
Draghi has not commented on the matter. The prime minister is hiding in a country house to contemplate what he will say in parliament on Wednesday. President Sergio Mattarella, who last week rejected Draghi’s resignation, asked him to put the political position before lawmakers.
