The first round of elections for Italy’s new president began on Monday. MPs and a smaller group of regional specialists are choosing a successor to current head of state, Sergio Mattarel, but the election began without a clear list of candidates.
Prime Minister Mario Draghi has indicated his willingness to run for president, but coalition parties are divided over their fears that his resignation will lead to early elections. So far, neither side has appointed Draghi as a candidate.
The presidential race opened even more after former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi withdrew his controversial candidacy on Saturday. He said he had enough votes to win, but the country cannot afford a political split. His office confirmed on Sunday that Berlusconi had undergone tests at a hospital in Milan in recent days.
Political parties held internal meetings over the weekend, but did not disclose the names of potential candidates. It is increasingly likely that the first rounds of voting will have blank ballots or fictitious names while behind-the-scenes negotiations continue. During the first three rounds, an absolute majority of votes is required for election. As of Thursday, a simple majority is enough for the candidates.
The election of the 13th President of Italy is preparing the ground for the upcoming parliamentary elections. The term of office of the current parliament ends in 2023.
