Despite the 5-Star boycott, Draghi’s measures passed by 172 to 39. However, it left the government at real risk of collapse and could lead to an early election.
“I want to announce that this evening I will present my resignation to the President of the Republic,” Draghi said in a statement.
“Today’s votes in Parliament are very significant from a political point of view. The majority of national unity that has supported this government since its creation is no longer there,” he added.
But Italy’s President, Sergio Mattarella, has rejected Draghi’s resignation, the Italian Presidency said in a statement. Mattarella instead asked Draghi to address the parliament in order to assess the political situation.
“The President of the Republic did not accept the resignation and invited the Prime Minister to appear before Parliament to make communications, so that an assessment of the situation that has arisen as a result of the outcome of the session held today in the Senate of the Republic could be carried out in its proper forum,” the statement said.
Draghi had previously said that he would not lead a government that did not include 5-Star, the largest party in Italy’s party. The populist 5-Star movement objected to Draghi’s cost-of-living package on the grounds it didn’t go far enough, though it had been threatening to withdraw its support for a long time.
Read More: Italy’s President Mattarella rejects Prime Minister Draghi’s resignation