Uh, sorry, did we read that correctly? Berlusconi as President of the Italian Republic?
Yes, everything indicates that Il Cavaliere will stand as a candidate to succeed Sergio Matarella, whose seven-year term officially ends on February 3. He does not hide that it interests him and is currently trying to rally support on the right and on the far right. Berlusconi would be one of the most serious contenders for this post, along with Mario Draghi, who is considering leaving his post as President of the Council of Ministers (Prime Minister) a year early to run for the presidency.
The Italian presidency is a symbolic role, isn’t it? What interest ?
Precisely not. It is an honorary position, but the president bears a real responsibility for national unity and can play a key role in a situation of crisis or government impasse. It is in this context that the outgoing president turned to Mario Draghi in February 2021 to succeed Giuseppe Conte, who had lost his majority in Parliament.
Okay. But Berlusconi, all the same! The man is 85 years old. He has been prime minister four times. What more does he want?
Berlusconi, who survived COVID-19 in 2020, is convinced he is the man for the job. Becoming president would allow him to end his political career on a prestigious note, especially as his reputation has been battered several times by scandals, convictions (tax evasion) and embarrassing statements. In addition, he is still targeted by two allegations of witness corruption, in the “bunga bunga” orgies case, during which he allegedly paid for the services of underage prostitutes. The presidency would give him political immunity for seven years and would be like a form of rehabilitation for him.
PHOTO TIZIANA FABI, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Demonstrators protesting against the candidacy of Silvio Berlusconi, in Rome, on January 4. “The Quirinal is not a bunga bunga”, can we read on their signs, referring to the official residence of the president and the orgies in which the former prime minister would have participated.
“He is an indisputable megalomaniac,” sums up Marc Lazar, specialist in Italian politics at Sciences Po. For him, acceding to the presidency at the end of his life and at the end of his career is a way of making history with a capital H . ”
Seriously… what are his chances of being elected, with all the pots and pans he is dragging around?
Never say never ! To be elected to the presidency of the Republic, any candidate must obtain two-thirds of the votes of a thousand electorate voters, in particular deputies and senators. A priori, Berlusconi would have the support of the center-right and far-right formations like the League of Matteo Salvini and Frattelli d’Italia, of Giorgia Meloni. But he still lacks about fifty votes. And since the ballot takes place by secret ballot, many surprises can take place, some voters taking advantage of anonymity to deviate from their party line.
Many are worried about seeing Berlusconi at the head of state. Given the reputation of the man, this would give a big blow to the image of Italy, which is quite good at the moment. The Left Daily Il Fatto daily has also launched a petition to protest against this political maneuver and has already collected more than 200,000 signatures.
“He has a chance of being elected, but it still seems a relatively small possibility. If, at the end of the day, the people who appoint the President of the Republic have a minimum of rationality, they should not elect him. But I am very careful. This cannot be completely ruled out, ”believes Marc Lazar.
The election of Mario Draghi would therefore be more likely?
Yes, because all the camps see an interest in it.
Draghi’s departure from the post of prime minister would likely result in early parliamentary elections in a fragmented political landscape, which could end in a victory for the right, or even the far right, currently ahead in the polls.
PHOTO REMO CASILLI, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Mario Draghi has been Prime Minister of Italy since February 2021.
The left, for its part, would like to have this credible personality at the head of the state to serve as a safeguard if the far right ends up taking power.
[Mario Draghi], he is someone who can prevent any populist drift, sovereignist of a government made up of Mme Meloni and M. Salvini in a strong position.
Marc Lazar, specialist in Italian politics and director of the Center d’histoire de Sciences Po
However, everything has its downside. If Draghi becomes president, he will no longer be able to sit in the European Council, where he weighs considerably. This former president of the European Central Bank has a credible reputation. Thanks to him, Italy has regained some of its prestige on the European map. He is listened to very much.
Other names are circulating, such as that of Marta Cartabia, Minister of Justice, or that of Pier Ferdinando Casini, former president of the lower house.
There is finally the possibility that Sergio Mattarella, 80, decides to stay a year or two more, a scenario sometimes mentioned.
Three weeks before the vote, we may not be at the end of our surprises.