PM Mario Draghi gains the confidence of the Senate, but with only 95 votes in favor: the lowest result the government has achieved in this legislature. It’s a small number to continue on the government’s path.
It is not only the 5-Star Movement, which does not participate in the vote, that is bringing down the government, but the absences of the League and Forza Italia, which leave the hemicycle, are also weighing on the outcome. However, Conte’s senators guaranteed a quorum by remaining in the chamber as “present but abstaining from the vote”.
Fearing that they might run the risk of a lack of quorum, rendering the vote null and void, was President Elisabetta Casellati herself in the Chamber, after 5S group leader Mariolina Castellone’s statement. In the end there were 192 present, 133 voting and the ceiling for the majority of 67. When the first call began shortly after 7 p.m. (Italian time), it was immediately clear that there would be no major surprises from the explanations of vote. The sides complied with the indications.
The League and Forza Italia were absent, but present and not voting were the 5s; voting “no” were Fratelli d’Italia and Cal, while in favor were Pd, Iv and Italia per il futuro, LeU, +Europa-Azione, and Italia al Centro. The Mixed group split, with eight voting against: these are senators who, from Ciampolillo to Nugnes, are normally in opposition.
Voting in favor in dissent from the group were Andrea Cangini and former 5s senator Gregorio De Falco, now at Misto: the latter had already announced support for the government in the morning. Spotted in the Senate the M5s minister, Stefano Patuanelli, who, however, from the printouts, appears to be on leave.
From the League, a misstep was made by Cristiano Zuliani, who had to retract his vote: in fact, by mistake, passing under the government’s desk at the first call he declared himself, like the Pentastellati, present but not voting. None of the six life senators were present in the Senate today.
