“Uncomfortably hot lunch with swordfish and froyo in a luxury villa”: this is how Berlusconi and the far-right parties overthrew the Italian government of Draghi | Abroad

Draghi gave his ruling parties an ultimatum after the M5S refused to agree to a package of measures to help businesses and families during the energy crisis: “Join the government as one or I will resign.”

The former head of the European Central Bank became head of government only after Italian President Sergio Mattarella (80 years old) asked him to do so. Since he was not holding an elected office, he did so on the condition that he had the support of a broad coalition.

The Government of National Unity had to lead Italy through an energy crisis and spend 191 billion euros in European post-corona aid in accordance with agreements with the European Commission. The loss of M5S support (103 of the 630 seats in the House) was enough for the technocrats to keep the credit for themselves.

The M5S was not intimidated and abstained during the Senate vote of confidence. But Matteo Salvini’s far-right Lega party (49) and Berlusconi’s centre-right Forza Italia party also did not vote. Mattarella then had no choice but to accept Draghi’s resignation and dissolve the House and Senate, leading to new elections on September 25.

The fact that Lega and Forza Italia did not appear in the Senate was motivated by Giorgia Meloni (45), leader of the far-right party Fratelli d’Italia or Brothers of Italy (FdI). According to opinion polls, as an opposition leader, she seems to have the best chance of becoming Italy’s next prime minister at the moment.

Draghi’s fate was sealed over lunch in Berlusconi’s luxury villa in one of Rome’s most expensive neighborhoods. With a swordfish and salad on the table, he, Salvini, and other politicians decided to withdraw their support for the Italian prime minister. to write Politico Europe news site in reconstruction.

It was uncomfortably hot there. They ate lunch sweating on the balcony with frozen yogurt as a conclusion. According to Berlusconi, politicians from the right and the far right met to discuss “the behavior of the M5S”. In an interview with the Corriere della Sera newspaper, the former prime minister repeated: “We do not blame what happened, nothing.” He even accuses Draghi of being “bored” with the premiership and also refers to the M5S, which acted “irresponsibly”.

After the Senate vote, Salvini returned to Berlusconi’s villa for what Politico Europe called a “clear victory dinner”. The news site wrote that Lega spokesmen denied that they rigged a plot to get rid of Draghi.

It could still fly in their faces like a boomerang. When Draghi first tendered his resignation to President Mattarella, who refused, the former central bank governor received massive support both at home and abroad. He has also been a supporter of sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin. Salvini has been under fire several times because of his relations with him.

The Draghi government was also on course to meet dozens of conditions to receive European Corona support. These loans and subsidies are subject to certain conditions. There are fears that after the first payment of 25 billion euros, the next part of the 191 billion euros will be at risk.

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