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News > Italy

Italy to Hold Presidential Elections

  • Italian presidential elections to be held next week. Jan. 21, 2022.

    Italian presidential elections to be held next week. Jan. 21, 2022. | Photo: Twitter/@STVNews

Published 21 January 2022
Opinion

On Monday, lawmakers and regional parliaments will start the process of electing the new president of Italy.

On Monday, 1009 'grand electors' representative lawmakers from regional and parliament houses will start the election process to decide who will succeed President Sergio Mattarella after a seven-year mandate.

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Premier Mario Draghi's government ruled on Friday a decree, allowing the 'grand electors' who tested positive for COVID-19 to go out to vote at a 'drive-through' voting station, set up for them in the Lower House's car park.

During the last day,  the leaders of Italy's political parties have been meeting for days aimed at the elections, and as the date approaches, talks are intensifying. The head of State in Italy plays an essential role in times of political crisis, as it acts as a judge of Italian politics.

The right has considered backing ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi to be Mattarella's substitution. As a result of the opposition from the Democratic Party (PD) and the 5-Star Movement (M5S), there are some doubts about whether the Forza Italia leader would take the job. The opposition has stated that the president should be a more neutral figure. According to ANSA, Berlusconi would decide whether to stand for the election as president by Sunday.

Vittorio Sgarbi, an art critic and Forza Italia MP, suggested the billionaire might be thinking about proposing someone else instead. On Friday, the league leader Matteo Salvini disclosed he would "make one or two high-level proposals" that would limit chances to veto.

The chances of Mattarella being re-elected have been considered, which has previously happened only once, with his predecessor Giorgio Napolitano, and staying on the post, although possibly not for the whole term.

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