Italy's Draghi to meet 5-Star chief with government's future at risk

Mario Draghi, the Italian Prime Minister, makes a statement about the Ukraine crisis in Rome (Italy) on 24 February, 2022.

Conte was Draghi’s predecessor as premier. However, relations with Draghi are becoming more difficult as 5-Star’s fortunes decline.

Conte spoke at a Friday gathering with Democratic Party (PD) ally 5-Star. He stated, "We will discuss between our political bodies whether we should remain in the government... Monday’s meeting will be an important to clarify matters."

5-Star was the largest party until this month's split, when 60 lawmakers left to form a breakaway group headed by Luigi Di Maio (a former leader of 5-Star).

Some people who remain are calling for Conte's resignation from the multi-party government. They claim Draghi has diluted or scrapped its flagship measures, and that it has greater chances of reviving its fortunes as an opposition party.

Draghi stepped up the stakes Friday by telling reporters that his government could not exist without the 5-Star Movement and threatening to resign if his coalition quits, even though he would still hold a majority of parliamentarians.

Reports that he tried to persuade 5-Star founder Beppe Grillo to let Conte go as leader were denied by him.

Conte will request assurances from the premier on several policies supported by 5-Star, which are under threat due to opposition from Draghi and other coalition parties. A 5-Star source told Reuters.

These include the poverty-relief program "citizens income", the introduction of a minimum salary, and state subsidies to energy-saving home improvements.

Conte will also make his case about 5-Star's plans to build a Rome garbage incinerator and future Italian arms shipments into Ukraine, which his party opposes. Draghi, however, is not backing down.

According to a source, Draghi's meeting will be preceded with a gathering of top brass from 5-Star in order to settle the position.

5-Star could leave the coalition if it did not. This would put in jeopardy its chances of forming an alliance with the PD for the upcoming national elections.

"If 5-Star pulls away that will be the end the government and it won't be possible for us to run alongside them at the election," Dario Franceschini (Culture Minister), a prominent PD politician said on Sunday.

According to the most recent surveys, the PD currently polls on 20%, while 5-Star, which won 33% in the last election in 2018, has seen its support drop to 12%.