[3] Mattarella stated that the new government would have to face the health, economic and social crises related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as overseeing the EU relief fund associated with it.
[6][7][8][9] The choice by Mattarella to appoint Draghi as Prime Minister was welcomed by some international observers, with others casting doubt on the stability of a new technocratic government.
The Five Star Movement (M5S), Democratic Party (PD), Free and Equal (LeU), For the Autonomies, Europeanists, and some members of the Mixed Group all expressed support for the reappointment of Conte as Prime Minister, but IV ruled this out.
[19][20][21] The centre-right and right-wing parties, the League (Lega), Forza Italia (FI) and the Brothers of Italy (FdI), stated that they preferred a snap election, but would be willing to join a national unity government under certain conditions.
[25] With the prospect of early elections looming, on 3 February Mattarella invited former ECB President Mario Draghi to the Quirinal Palace to charge him to forming a national unity government.
[31] The same day, the M5S held an online referendum on whether to "support a technical-political government with the other political forces indicated by the appointed prime minister Mario Draghi", which was approved by 59.3%.
[33][34] The government was composed of twenty-four ministers, eight women and sixteen men, most of them from Northern Italy, largely from Lombardy and Veneto; it contained representatives from all supportive political parties, as well as numerous independent technocrats.
[39] In July 2022, the M5S did not participate to a confidence vote in the Senate on a government bill, the so-called decreto aiuti, regarding a €27 billion economic aid to counteract the energy and economy crisis.