ITALY: After important coalition members skipped a vote of confidence, Italian Premier Mario Draghi resigned on Thursday, raising the possibility of early elections and resuming an unpredictable period for Italy and Europe at a crucial juncture.

During a morning meeting at the Quirinale Palace, Draghi submitted President Sergio Mattarella with his letter of resignation. According to Mattarella's office, the president "took notice" of the resignation and asked Draghi's administration to continue as caretaker government.

Draghi informed the lower house of parliament on Thursday that he was on his way to see President Sergio Mattarella, implying that Mattarella would be resigning soon. One of Mattarella's choices would be to ask Draghi to continue in office as interim leader until a quick election.

Draghi's government collapsed on Wednesday due to his uneasy coalition of right, left, and populists rejecting his pleas for them to work together once more to complete the legislative session's natural term and ensure the implementation of the coronavirus pandemic recovery programme, which was funded by the European Union.

Instead, the populist 5-Star Movement, the League, and the center-right Forza Italia parties boycotted a Senate vote on a motion of confidence, making it very apparent they were fed up with Draghi's 17-month administration.

Italian media on Thursday expressed a common fury at the absurd decision, given that Italy is grappling with high inflation, rising energy prices, Russia's conflict with Ukraine, and unfinished reforms required to get the remaining 200 billion euros in EU recovery funding.

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