Italy’s president summons Draghi in bid to forge new gov’t

Italy’s president has summoned former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi for a meeting Wednesday after stressing the urgent need for political parties to back the creation of a “high-profile” government able to lead the country through its health and economic emergency.  

In a televised speech late Tuesday, Sergio Mattarella announced that the first round of negotiations aimed at forging a new ruling coalition had failed, leading the country into deep uncertainty after the sudden collapse of the government led by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte last week.

Mattarella is now faced with the alternative of tapping an institutional, high-profile figure to lead a new Cabinet or the risky choice of calling early elections. However, he said Italy cannot afford to enter a months-long electoral campaign just as it is battling a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.