Column / Chiara Rimella
Seats of power
For many, he remains the butt of jokes – not only about Italian politics but also the country in general. However, Silvio Berlusconi has once again proved himself to be undefeatable. The much-derided former prime minister is currently being considered by some as a potential candidate for the role of president, a figure chosen by parliament to guarantee national unity and ensure respect for the constitution. That such a controversial man should be in the running for the republic’s most venerated office speaks volumes about how divisive (and inconclusive) the search for a plausible name has been so far.
This is undoubtedly why many in parliament have now set their sights on an altogether different candidate: Mario Draghi (pictured). As the former head of the European Central Bank and current prime minister, “super Mario” has already achieved the seemingly impossible feat of herding a coalition of stray political cats into a workable government. Politicians can’t put themselves forward for the role; they must be chosen by at least two thirds of MPs in an anonymous vote. But despite not officially having thrown his hat into the ring, he has clearly signalled that he would be available should duty call.
But would swapping roles really be a smart move? Yes, taking the president’s sash would ensure that Draghi remains at the forefront of politics for another seven years, rather than being ousted at the end of this term. But vacating his current role would only give way to another frustrating game of musical chairs. There are few, if any, who would be able to reunite the present coalition and thereby avoid yet another potentially fractious general election. In Draghi, Italy has found a solution with which to bolster its economy and international standing – but it must be wary of using the same plaster on all of its wounds.