Italians ask Prime Minister Draghi to remain in office despite political crisis
Italy's mayors, business organisations and union leaders urged Prime Minister Mario Draghi at the weekend to rethink his decision to resign, warning that the stability of the debt-laden country was at risk.
The mayors of 110 Italian cities, including the top 10 metropolitan areas, said in an open letter they were following the turmoil with "incredulity and concern" and called for all sides to show responsibility.
"We mayors, who are called upon every day to manage and resolve the problems that afflict our citizens, ask Mario Draghi to go ahead and explain to parliament the good reasons why the government must continue," they wrote.
Draghi tendered his resignation last week after one of the parties in his broad coalition, the 5-Star Movement, refused to back the government in a parliamentary confidence vote.
President Sergio Mattarella rejected his resignation and asked him to address parliament this coming week, hoping he would find a consensus to stave off early elections at a time of international tumult and economic tension.
Draghi comfortably won the confidence vote on a package of measures aimed at alleviating the high cost of living for families and firms. Yet, he said without the full backing of all his partners, his national unity government could not continue.
The populist 5-Star, riven by internal splits, says it has not withdrawn from the coalition but has called on Draghi to give the group guarantees that he will enact its policy priorities, such as a minimum wage.
"We cannot share the responsibility of government if there is no certainty over the issues that we have underlined," 5-Star leader Giuseppe Conte said on Facebook late Saturday.
A source in the prime minister's office said Draghi would not bow to any
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