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Italy’s prime minister, Mario Draghi, says he will resign as coalition collapses

WATCH ABOVE: Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi resigned today, a move that was not accepted by the country's president. As Mike Drolet reports, the president has asked Draghi to try and find common ground with the government coalition partners – Jul 14, 2022

Mario Draghi said he would resign as Italian prime minister on Thursday.

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His announcement comes after a party in his ruling coalition did not participate in a confidence vote.

“I will tender my resignation to the president of the republic this evening,” Draghi told the cabinet, according to a statement released by his office.

“The national unity coalition that backed this government no longer exists,” he added.

The confidence vote had become a focal point for tensions within Draghi’s government as its parties prepare to fight each other in a national election due by early 2023.

The decision by the 5-Star party to boycott the confidence vote on Thursday had plunged Italy into political uncertainty and risked undermining efforts to secure billions of euros in European Union funds, tackle a damaging drought and reduce its reliance on Russian gas.

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Draghi raised the stakes by saying he would not want to lead a government without 5-Star, who emerged as the largest party in the previous election in 2018 but have since suffered defections and a loss of public support.

It could lead to national elections as early as September or October after other coalition parties said there should be a vote if 5-Star no longer backed the government.

More to come.

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