Italian Draghi warns 5 stars against political ultimatums

ROME – Prime Minister Mario Draghi on Tuesday insisted his government could continue to work despite tensions with the 5-Star Movement, but warned it could not function if coalition members issued ultimatums.

Draghi briefed reporters on the government’s recent efforts to ease the impact of rising inflation and high energy costs on workers, families and industries after meeting with unions.

The meeting came after the 5-star MPs abstained in Monday’s vote on a government measure in the lower chamber of deputies, a sign of a lack of support that prompted Draghi to join forces with the Italian president. The measure comes before the Senate on Thursday, and there are many questions about whether the 5-Star will also abstain in the upper house.

Draghi stressed: “I have said that there is no government without the 5 stars and I have said that there is no other Draghi government than the current one.”

The 5-Star leadership has been complaining about government priorities for weeks, calling for more generous financial relief for families and businesses suffering high energy bills and continued funding of a guaranteed monthly salary for those unable to find work.

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Draghi said the current national unity government, which includes parties from the right, left and the populist 5-stars, has managed the 5-star “fibrillations” well and is still able to get its job done and things done to do.

“These fibrillations are important because they affect the existence of government, but they become more important when government, even if it exists, cannot do its job,” he said. He warned of further threats across the board, stressing that “government doesn’t work by ultimatums”.

The 5 Star Movement, which was the strongest party in parliament after the 2018 election, has lost influence in subsequent years due to poor performance in local and administrative elections, and the exclusion and defection of lawmakers in parliament.