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One month after the end of Sergio Mattarella’s term, there are still no clear clues as to who could succeed him
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The appointment is important for the political stability of the country and the reforms requested by the EU
This Friday Sergio Mattarella he plans to deliver his last speech as President of the Republic of Italy before the citizens. His term, which began in 2015, ends in February, and the octogenarian head of state, a veteran Christian Democrat with a brother assassinated by the Sicilian mafia, has already repeatedly made it known that he has no interest in reelection. The ‘hot potato’ will pass into the hands of the Parliament, the body that chooses presidents in Italy, and which is expected to begin voting in about three weeks – the exact date could be set next week – to elect a successor.
However, the certainties more or less end here. Because, despite the fact that the race to elect the new president began months ago and Italian newspapers have already made oceans of ink flow on the matter, the exact date is still unknown. candidate with greater possibilities to fill the position of Mattarella. As the Roman newspaper summarized it on Thursday The poster: the discussion is “at a standstill.” It is a “entanglement, for the moment, inextricable”, the Italian bishops commented from the pages of their newspaper. It almost seems that the parties are looking for a “Frankenstein” candidate, with their opposing requests, has opined the lawyer and journalist Giulia Merlo.
In fact, the much talked about (although never confirmed by the interested party) candidacy of Mario Draghi, the current Italian Prime Minister, has raised concerns for the stability of the current government and that what was promised for the implementation of the reforms requested by the European Union (EU). While the also aired name of Silvio Berlusconi It has sparked protests by those who remember that the elderly politician-tycoon embodied the worst part of Italy since his entry into politics in 1994, that of corruption scandals, objectified girls and outbursts with Brussels. In the same way, none of the proposals of possible women candidates seem, at the moment, to gather the necessary political majority that is needed to take over the position.
The referee of Italy
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The reason for such confusion is that, in Italian politics, the President of the Republic is a kind of referee. It is not in charge of managing the country on a daily basis, but the Constitution gives it great powers when, for example, there is political crises, since he is the one in charge of summoning elections, dissolve Parliament and appoint new governments. In addition, it also ensures that what is approved by the Executive is not unconstitutional and, without its signature, a law may not become such. Hence, the parties tend to lean towards consensus presidents, which, in poor words, means that prestigious people are usually sought, but who do not interfere too much, respect the balance of all interests at stake and, at the same time, be able to captain the ship when it has no rudder.
Mattarella is the living example of this. Constitutional judge, valued and discreet leader, the old politician firmly took the reins of the country every time that the cyclical wars of power in politics led to the fall of a government (a total of five governments succeeded each other during his seven years in office ). The last time was less than a year ago, when Mattarella was adamant about suggesting Draghi as prime minister. Although his hand did not tremble when making difficult decisions, such as when, in 2018, he rejected as Minister of Economy to Paolo Savona, a Eurosceptic economist close to the League of Matteo Salvini.
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