Italy political future uncertain as prime minister resigns
Max Civili
Press TV, Rome
Giuseppe Conte has handed in his resignation as Prime Minister to President Sergio Mattarella. It is highly uncertain where the political crisis will lead as presidential consultations with political parties are underway.
Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte tendered his resignation throwing Italy into a government crisis in the midst of a pandemic that has devastated the country.
More than 85,000 lives have been lost to coronavirus as Italy's economy is falling deeper into chaos.
After surviving two confidence votes last week, Conte has reportedly decided to quit because his executive risked being defeated in a vote over a contested report on the justice system in the Senate, where he no longer has an absolute majority.
The government was plunged into crisis after former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi pulled his junior partner Italia Viva out of the ruling coalition on January 13. Renzi had withdrawn his support over issues including differences on the COVID-19 Recovery Plan and the handling the coronavirus outbreak.
Conte is now expected to seek a third mandate from the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella to form a new executive with a broader coalition. Should he fail to do so Mattarella may decide to bring in a new prime minister or call for snap elections.
On Wednesday, Italy's head of state Mattarella is slated to start a round of formal consultations with party leaders and other institutional figures to see whether a new coalition can be formed.
It is uncertain where the political crisis will lead. What is certain is that not even the world's worst pandemic in a century has persuaded the Italian politicians to remain united to face an unprecedented health crisis together. After the collapse of 66 governments in just 75 years as a democracy, the country's future is now in the hands of President Mattarella.
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