Already a fifth ballot. This Friday, January 28, a thousand voters (deputies, senators, regional representatives, etc.) are once once more invited to designate the new president of Italy. Four votes have so far failed to achieve this. But now, unlike previous rounds, a simple majority vote is enough. What to glimpse the outcome of a week of political uncertainty somewhat incredible? Not necessarily.
→ EXPLANATION. Italy: kick off of the presidential election
The local press does not mince its words, evoking a “true anarchy”. Thursday, January 27, the former President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella – who has just completed his term at 80 and has repeatedly declared that he is not available for a second – collected 166 ballots at the end of the fourth round. . The great electors would like to persuade him to return to the Quirinal, the seat of the presidency in Rome.
Conversely, the highly respected Mario Draghi, the current Prime Minister who does not hide his wish to take the presidency, has received very few votes so far: barely five on Thursday. The reason is simple: the continuation of his mandate at the head of the government is considered essential by the majority of elected officials, in particular so that he can implement the national recovery and resilience plan financed by the European Union, and to avoid a governmental crisis if he were to resign from this position to join the Quirinal.
For now, the big winner is abstention: 441 voters preferred not to vote.
A female president?
Can a third man emerge? Or rather a woman? On Friday, the right proposed the candidacy of Elisabetta Casellati. Coming from the Forza Italia party, founded by Silvio Berlusconi, this 75-year-old woman has chaired the Senate since March 2018. But the center-left does not like her much.
The centre-left is proposing another candidate, Elisabetta Belloni, the first woman to head the Department of Information for Security, the Italian secret service. Not belonging to any political party, she might finally beat everyone at the post.
Other names are circulating, including that of Sabino Cassese, former judge of the Constitutional Court, university professor, close to the leader of the Democratic Party (PD) of former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Pier Ferdinando Casini, the founder of the UDC (Democratic Center Union) party, also believes in his chances.
Finally, another personality intends to create a surprise: Andrea Riccardi, the founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio and former Minister for International Cooperation. Close to ecclesiastical circles, Riccardi was quoted in 2003 by the magazine Time in the list of thirty-six “contemporary heroes” of Europe, distinguished for their professional courage and their humanitarian commitment.