ROME (AP) 鈥� Italian Premier Mario Draghi has told his Cabinet he will offer his resignation on Thursday evening to the president, following the refusal of a coalition ally to support a government bill.
鈥淭he majority of national unity that has sustained this government from its creation doesn鈥檛 exist any more," Draghi said in a statement released by his office.
It will be up to President Sergio Mattarella to accept or reject the resignation. But if the government crisis can鈥檛 be resolved quickly, Mattarella could pull the plug on Parliament, setting the stage for an election as early as September.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP鈥檚 earlier story follows below.
ROME (AP) 鈥� Italian Premier Mario Draghi won a confidence vote Thursday in the Senate but the future of his pandemic unity government was in doubt after the populist 5-Star Movement boycotted the vote, throwing his coalition into crisis.
The vote was 172-39 on a relief bill to help Italians facing soaring energy costs, but 5-Stars senators were absent after confirming they wouldn鈥檛 participate.
Draghi met later Thursday with President Sergio Mattarella to decide on the next steps, including a possible offer to resign. Draghi has repeatedly made it clear that the populists were among the coalition partners that signed up to be part of his government last year and that he wouldn鈥檛 continue without them.
Mattarella could accept or reject any resignation by Draghi. The president could also ask Draghi to go before Parliament in the coming days to seek a formal vote on the government itself, to see if the ranks of squabbling allies would rally around him.
Parliament鈥檚 term expires in spring 2023. If Mattarella can鈥檛 come up with a solution so Draghi鈥檚 government can continue, he is expected to dissolve the legislature and call an early election, which could come as early as late September.
Mattarella had tapped the former European Central Bank chief 鈥� who was known as 鈥淪uper Mario鈥� for his 鈥渨hatever it takes鈥� rescue of the euro 鈥� to pull Italy out of the coronavirus pandemic and lay the groundwork to make use of billions in European Union pandemic recovery funds.
The 5-Stars had joined Draghi's broad coalition of national unity, which included parties both on the right and the left.
But the 5-Stars, which have lost significant support in recent years, have been complaining that their interests have been ignored. In the measure voted on Thursday, the 5-Stars opposed a provision to allow Rome to operate a garbage incinerator on the outskirts of the chronically trash-choked Italian capital.
That item was just part of a bill that reduces taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel, as well as extends utility bill relief to hard-pressed Italians, but 5-Star leader Giuseppe Conte cited the provision in announcing late Wednesday that his lawmakers would boycott the vote.
In the debate Thursday, several senators blasted Conte鈥檚 decision.
Being in a government 鈥渋s not like picking up a menu and deciding, antipasto, no, gelato, yes,鈥� said Emma Bonino, who leads a tiny pro-Europe party.
Others noted that Draghi had increasing become a pivotal figure in Europe as Russia wages war against Ukraine, especially with the impending departure of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
An ally of center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian premier, argued in the Senate that a collapse of Draghi鈥檚 government could trigger 鈥渢he destabilization of Europe.鈥�
鈥淵ou鈥檇 be doing a favor to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,鈥� thundered Sen. Antonio Saccone.
Draghi has governed with the support of virtually all of Italy鈥檚 main parties, with the exception of the fast-rising far-right Brothers of Italy party, which has demanded that Mattarella pull the plug on Parliament and give Italians a chance at voting in new leaders.
But Giovanni Orsina, a history professor and director of the school of government at Rome's LUISS university, said Mattarella would want to avoid calling an early election and will likely ask Draghi to go to Parliament to see if he can command a new, workable majority.
鈥淲e've got the pandemic, we got the war, we have inflation, we have the energy crisis. So certainly this is not a good moment,鈥� Orsina said. "And also because Mattarella believes, rightly, that his mission is to safeguard stability.鈥�
Among Draghi鈥檚 achievements has been keeping Italy on track with reforms that the EU has made a condition for the country to receive 200 billion euros (dollars) in pandemic recovery assistance. Much of that EU funding is already allocated and subject to automatic mechanisms, suggesting the funding won't be lost, even amid government instability.
鈥淏ut of course the fact that Draghi with his prestige, international prestige, is not behind that, is going to have some kind consequences,鈥� Orsina said.
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Nicole Winfield and Paolo Santalucia contributed.
Frances D'emilio, The Associated Press
