ROME – Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi refused to throw in the towel Wednesday despite centre right parties boycotting a confidence vote in the Senate together with the Five Star Movement. He will attend a debate in the Chamber of Deputies Thursday, evidently to make a last ditch attempt to save his government, Palazzo Chigi said.

  Draghi's replica amounted to the prime minister telling the fractious parties "non rompere le scatole," ("don't break my balls,"), according to a commentator for RAI state-run TV. 

 "We are here because Italian asked us to be," Draghi said in a speech that opened the debate. "Parties, are you ready to reconstitute this pact?" 

 League Senator Massimiliano Romeo said the League was presenting a motion proposing that "the Senate give it support to the action of a government that has been profoundly renewed both in its political choices and its composition." The reference to the composition meant that the Five Star Movement should be excluded from a renewed coalition under Draghi, a proposal that the centre-right alliance led by media mogul Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia endorsed a short time after the League in a similar statement. 

 Demanding unity among members of his coalition, Sig. Draghi left this threat hanging as an ultimatum for him to remain in government. He declared that the coalition should be in consensus over issues such as sending arms to Ukraine, tackling the energy crisis and social inequality among others, if he was to stay in government. 

 Senators from the Five Star movement remained obstinate over the 26 billion euro cost of living package, and demanded a minimum wage and a green home renovations scheme. Sig. Draghi addressed these concerns in his speech, pledging to make progress towards introducing a minimum wage. The former European Central Bank’s chief also addressed key policies of the League, such as cutting taxes, and greater autonomy to the regions. 

 Should Sig. Draghi leave, it would be Italy’s third government collapse in three years. The next general elections are due to take place in June 2023, but if Sig. Draghi steps down, elections as early as October are expected to be called. Italy has not held autumn elections since World War Two, as this time is usually reserved for going through the budget.

 Even without the support of the Five Star Movement, Sig. Draghi could still get a majority, however this counts on the decisions of the League and Forza Italia. Sig. Draghi has so far claimed to be unwilling to lead a coalition without the Five Star Movement, however the League and Forza Italia have contended that they do not want to be a part of a coalition with the populist party. Given that Sig. Draghi’s initial mandate pledged coalition across the political spectrum, it is uncertain as of yet how this will be reached.

 Pro-Draghi sentiment has become prominent across the country with rallies in his favour having taken place on Monday in Rome and other cities, as well as over 1,500 mayors, including from opposition parties, signing an open letter to Sig. Draghi, pleading with him to remain in government. A petition called “Draghi stay” has also gained more than 100,000 signatures. 

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