Italy: What is at stake for the national unity government in the presidential elections?

The Italian electoral college will come together in a joint session on 24   January at 3 p.m. to elect a new president of the republic, as Sergio Mattarella’s seven-year term ends on 3 February 2022. The role of the president of the Italian republic is often confined to essentially representative and very limited functions, since the head of executive power is the president of the council of ministers. Recent history has shown , however, that the reality is more mixed: as Italy is plagued by frequent political crises, the president has a role to play in resolving them. He also has a say in the overall political course of the country and its international role . The presidential election will provide some indication of Italy’s political future. Different scenarios are opening up, with different political consequences and ultimately economic and financial repercussions that should not be underestimated.