Despite the five-star boycott, Draghi’s measures passed 172 to 39. However, it left the government in real danger of collapse and could lead to early elections.
“I want to announce that this evening I will submit my resignation to the President of the Republic,” Draghi said in a statement.
He added, “Today’s votes in Parliament are very important from a political point of view. The majority of the national unity that supported this government since its formation no longer exists.”
The Italian presidency said in a statement that Italian President Sergio Mattarella had rejected Draghi’s resignation. Instead, Mattarella asked Draghi to address Parliament in order to assess the political situation.
“The President of the Republic did not accept the resignation and called on the Prime Minister to appear before Parliament for contacts, so that the situation that arose as a result of today’s session in the Senate could be assessed. The Republic can be implemented in its appropriate forum,” the statement said.
Draghi had previously said he would not lead a government that did not include the 5-Star Party, the largest in the Italian party. The populist 5-Star Movement objected to Draghi’s cost-of-living package on the grounds that it did not go far enough, even though it had long threatened to withdraw its support.
