Former Prime Minister and leader of Forza Italia (FI) Silvio Berlusconi gave up trying to be president of Italy in the election that will begin next Monday (24). The news was confirmed by the politician himself.
This Saturday (22), the Italian had participated in a meeting with exponents of his party and was supposed to participate in a meeting of the leaders of the “center-right” bloc, which brings together the ultranationalist parties League, of Matteo Salvini, and Brothers of Italy (FdI), from Giorgia Meloni.
However, Berlusconi did not meet with his political allies and, shortly afterwards, sent an official note to the meeting announcing the “step back".
Among the justifications, the former prime minister stated that he wants to maintain “national unity” and that the current Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, should “continue at Palazzo Chigi” because he is making a “great work".
The note also thanks the parliamentarians who supported his candidacy and highlights that he always served the country.
According to the president of the FI, it is necessary for the center-right – which, according to electoral polls, has almost half of the Italian votes – to offer a joint name with as much consensus as possible for the country's Presidency.
Letter to the population
After the announcement to his allies, Berlusconi released an official letter about his decision.
“Italy needs unity, beyond the majority-opposition distinction, to maintain the effort to combat the very serious health emergency, to get the country out of the crisis. The nation can recover in difficult times if everyone knows how to find, as occurred in the post-war period, a common sense of belonging to our democracy, overcoming the wounds and beyond the legitimate and also necessary differences”, says the text.
According to the former prime minister, “I decided to take a new step on the path of national responsibility, asking whoever proposed it to desist from nominating my name for the Presidency of the Republic”.
“I will continue to serve my country in another way, as I did in these years, as a political leader and European parliamentarian, preventing controversies or lacerations that cannot be justified in my name, which today the nation cannot afford”, says the document.
After the announcement, Salvini also spoke publicly praising Berlusconi and confirming that the center-right bloc will nominate a name by consensus.
“Berlusconi is doing a great service for Italy and the center-right, which will now have the honor and responsibility of advancing his proposals without any more vetoes from the left,” he said, referring specifically to the Democratic Party (PD) and the centrist populists 5 Star Movement.
However, according to sources at the meeting, Meloni did not agree with Berlusconi's request that Draghi remain in power until the end of the legislature. As opinion polls indicate the FdI as the party that would have the most votes in a possible advance of the elections, the representative continues with her desire to take on the role of prime minister.
Succession
Currently, Draghi manages to maintain a coalition that ranges from the extreme right to the left, including populists, without any major scares.
Among the party negotiations for the dispute that will begin this Monday in Parliament, there are groups that want the current prime minister to become president to replace Sergio Mattarella. Others argue that Draghi should remain until the end of the legislature, in 2023.
However, the scenario is still quite undefined, with at least seven people with a real chance of taking on the position.
When launched from the center right, the Berlusconi's name met with great resistance, especially from the PD and M5S, who publicly said they would not support the choice. The justification is that the position of president should be occupied by a more institutional person and not by someone directly involved in party politics.
To be elected president of Italy, a candidate needs to obtain two thirds of the 1009 possible votes (673), but this level only applies to the first three ballots. If the election reaches the fourth vote, only a simple majority (505) is required.
This difference is a way of encouraging parties to seek the broadest possible consensus. (Handle)
FOLLOW ITALIANISM
