Italy: Gov’t collapse averted as president refuses PM resignation

Carabinieri police officers outside the Quirinale Palace in Rome - residence of the president - as Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi's coalition government came close to collapse on July 14, 2002 [Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters]

Italian President Sergio Mattarella has refused Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s offer of resignation insisting that the prime minister first return to Parliament next week to assess his government’s support.

Draghi had announced his plan to resign on Thursday after the Five Star Movement, a coalition partner, declined to back him in a confidence vote over a bill to combat soaring prices in the Italian economy.