It could have been the famous actor Rocco Siffredi, who had announced himself as a candidate … but it will ultimately be the outgoing president Sergio Mattarella who regains his post. Italy's ruling coalition parties re-elected Sergio Mattarella on Saturday, fearing for the country's political stability if they fail to find a successor. At 80, Sergio Mattarella, whose mandate ended on February 3, was re-elected for a second seven-year term by winning an absolute majority of 505 votes out of 1,009 senators, deputies and regional officials called to vote. The counting of the ballot papers continued in the hemicycle of the Chamber of Deputies in Rome and the final count of the vote was to be known before 9:00 p.m. Mario Draghi hailed in a statement "wonderful news for Italians".
Aged 80, President Mattarella had nevertheless indicated on several occasions that he did not intend to continue in his functions but during the day, he indicated to the heads of parliamentary groups who had come to meet him that he would make himself "available" s he was elected.
The election of his possible successor dragged on since the beginning of the week, in the absence of agreement on a name in a Parliament where neither the left nor the right have a majority.
A scenario that had the door to more or less eccentric candidacies like that of the former porn actor, Rocco Siffredi.
“Congratulations, dear Sergio, on your re-election,” French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted.
“I know I can count on your commitment to keep the friendship between our countries alive, as well as this united, strong and prosperous Europe that we are building”.
Congratulazioni, caro Sergio, per la tua rielezione.
So che posso contare sul tuo impegno per mantenere viva l'amicizia tra i nostri paesi e l'Europa unita, forte e prospera che stiamo costruendo.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 29, 2022
The Pope also congratulated the new President of the Italian Republic.
Message from #PapaFrancesco to #SergioMattarella: i migliori auguri per lo svolgimento del suo alto compito, che ha accolto con spirito di generosa disponibilità.
It suo servizio è anchora più essenziale per consolidare l'unità del Paese.
@Quirinale pic.twitter.com/6v3EKxqwXT
— Alessandro Gisotti (@AGisotti) January 29, 2022
Stability at the top of the state
THE scenario of Mattarella's election ensures stability at the top of the state by maintaining Mario Draghi, a favorite at one time for the post, at the head of the government, in a country in the process of economic recovery. The eighth round kicked off at 4:30 p.m. local time (3:30 p.m. GMT). The Democratic Party, the 5 Star Movement, Italia Viva, Forza Italia and the Lega having called to vote for him, Mr. Mattarella should gather the votes of at least 784 electors (deputies, senators, regional officials) out of the 1,009 called upon to express themselves.
The position of president in Italy is largely ceremonial, but it has an important role in the event of a political crisis, in a country whose political landscape is very fragmented.
It is he who has the power to dissolve Parliament, to appoint the Prime Minister and he can refuse the mandate to govern to coalitions that he considers too fragile.
His second mandate does not open under better auspices.
"The legislature is saved," noted the center-left daily La Repubblica, "even if the year that separates us from the polls risks being a repeat of the chaos we have witnessed in recent days.
No illusions: Mattarella's task will be more complicated than we imagine”.