Rome, July 21 (BIJ News) The Italian Council of Ministers won a relative majority in a confidence vote held in the republic's...
) The Italian Council of Ministers won a relative majority in a confidence vote held in the republic's Senate with 95 out of the 133 senators who participated in the vote supporting the current composition of the government.
The ruling coalition in Italy, which includes the Five-Star Movement (M5S), the far-right Lega Nord and Forza Italia parties, had earlier refused to participate in the confidence vote in the acting government headed by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Therefore, about one-third of the senators did not take part in the vote.
Draghi addressed the Senate on Wednesday saying that the survival of his unity administration depended on "rebuilding the pact of trust" and asked lawmakers to vote, as well as to adopt the resolution of the chairman of the Council of Ministers. However, Lega Nord and Forza Italia said that their senators were ready to support only their resolution, stipulating a new government majority without M5S.
Italian newspaper La Stampa cited government sources as saying that the establishment of a new Council of Ministers was impossible without the confidence vote in the acting government.
Italian broadcaster Rainews24 cited government sources shortly after the vote as saying that Draghi is expected to meet with Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Thursday and will attend the meeting of the Chamber of Deputies, Italy's lower house, on the confidence vote on Thursday morning. Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported after the vote that there is no longer a political majority in the republic; however, the Senate has not voted against confidence in the government, thus Draghi decided to take a night for thinking.
On July 14, Mattarella rejected Draghi's resignation. Draghi announced that he would resign from the post of head of government, even though the Senate of the Italian Parliament expressed confidence in the cabinet in connection with the adoption of an economic support decree. One member of M5S refused to take part in the vote, so Draghi proclaimed the national majority non-existent.
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