Italy's president accepts resignation of Prime Minister Mario Draghi

Italian President, Sergio Mattarella, accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Mario Draghi after a week-long attempt to unite his unravelling coalition failed.

The president's office said on Thursday that Draghi's government would remain in place for the time being to handle current business, but further steps about Italy's political future were not outlined.

Before meeting Mattarella, Draghi told lawmakers he saw no possibility of continuing to govern, after failing to receive broad backing in a Senate confidence vote on Wednesday night.

The former president of the European Central Bank, who is credited with saving the euro in 2012, has helmed a broad coalition in the eurozone's third-largest economy since February 2021.

It includes parties that often do not cooperate, but came together to show unity in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Draghi, who is politically independent, first offered to resign a week ago, after a populist ally refused back the government in key vote.

The offer was however rejected by Mattarella, in a bid by the president to avert a political crisis and give Draghi more time to revive his coalition.

GNA