Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi tendered his resignation on Thursday while meeting with President Sergio Mattarella, as efforts to save Italy's unity government faltered following a failed confidence vote in the Senate, DW reports.
He announced his intention to resign earlier in the day during an address to Italian Parliament. Mattarella accepted the resignation. Mattarella is now expected to announce new elections, which will likely take place in the fall. Mattarella asked Draghi to stay on for now as the head of a caretaker government.
Draghi had also attempted to resign last week, after the populist 5-Star Movement refused to support him in a confidence vote. Mattarella refused his resignation, however, with Draghi attempting to form a broad unity government one last time.
On Wednesday, Draghi said he was willing to stay on during remarks to the Italian Senate. He appealed to 5-Star and other parties to get behind him in a "new pact," citing challenges such as Ukraine and inflation.
The 5-Star Movement were the largest vote-getters in the 2018 election. Draghi would have been able to form a government without their participation, but he has vowed to govern the widest possible coalition.
