Berlusconi will not run for president in Italy

Rome - Sana

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced that he will not run for the presidential elections in his country, saying that his country "needs unity" in the face of the repercussions of the outbreak of the Corona virus.

Agence France-Presse quoted Berlusconi as saying in a statement today that he is "mathematically able to win, but in the spirit of national responsibility he asked those who recommended him to withdraw his name from the presidential race."

Berlusconi had been campaigning behind the scenes for weeks to succeed outgoing President Sergio Matterella, although few analysts considered him to have a good chance of winning.

It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Mario Draghi is the most likely presidential candidate, a former head of the European Central Bank and has been heading a national unity government since last year. year 2023.

In Italy, the president is elected by secret ballot. Representatives and senators, as well as representatives of the twenty Italian regions, a total of about a thousand people, gather to vote. In the first three rounds of voting, a two-thirds majority is necessary, but from the fourth round of voting, a simple majority is sufficient for the candidate to win the presidency.

The position of President in Italy is largely ceremonial, but the President of the Italian Republic plays a major role in the event of a government crisis during his seven-year term.