MNI BRIEF: Italy Presidential Vote Set For Weekend Showdown

Italian lawmakers are growing more optimistic that an agreement to find a new President will be reached over the weekend, despite votes on Friday looking unlikely see a winner, political sources are telling MNI.

The chances of current prime minister Mario Draghi are again improving, sources say, despite the leader of the League, Matteo Salvini, and Five Stars’ former PM Giussepe Conte still fiercely against his candidacy. There is also support building around a second term for current president Sergio Mattarella but is yet to see if Salvini would back him ahead of Draghi. Mattarella is only seen accepting if there is very broad agreement for him to continue. He would be appointed for a further seven year term but would be expected to resign before completion.

Friday is the first day with two votes. The first, under way now, has no chance of a positive outcome as Five Stars, Democrats and centrist Italia Viva are all abstaining. There will be another at 1700CET, again with little chances of succeeding if right wing parties maintain their support for Elisabetta Casellati, the current Senate president.