In 2013, when Giorgio Napolitano became the first president of the Italian Republic to succeed himself | EUROtoday

February 2013: the basic elections (legislative and senatorial) created a seemingly inextricable state of affairs. The left holds the majority in the Chamber of Deputies, however not in the Senate. The populist 5 Star Movement has change into the second largest get together in the nation. The proper is rolled. The President of the Council Mario Monti, who wished to play the apprentice politician by creating his get together, is discredited. The solely factor that stands out from this rubble is the determine of Giorgio Napolitano, however his mandate is about to expire and he has entered the section the place he now not has the energy to dissolve the assemblies to provoke new elections.

Attempts to create a authorities failed, as did these to discover a successor to the President of the Republic. All the candidates are eradicated in activate the altar of divisions and resentment. “I gave everything I had”, defined Mr. Napolitano, who longs to go away the Quirinal. However, after 5 rounds of unsuccessful voting in Parliament, it’s to him, as soon as once more, that elected officers who’re incapable of managing the state of affairs they’ve created flip. A delegation begs him to run for a second time period. He accepts.

For the first time in the historical past of Italy, a President of the Republic succeeds himself. But he units his circumstances: he’ll solely serve half a time period and calls for that the reforms (modification of the voting technique, finish of bicameralism, reform of taxation and justice) be carried out as rapidly as doable. “This is my personal contribution”, he mentioned. The final. On April 20, he was re-elected head of state by an absolute majority of 1,007 voters.

The cowardly aid of parliamentarians is palpable. And the precedent is created: in January 2022, whereas parliamentarians are as soon as once more in an inextricable state of affairs, incapable as they’re of agreeing on the successor of Sergio Mattarella, the scene will repeat itself, and the president, ordered to keep in workplace by all the political forces, can have to return to his residences at the Quirinal, a couple of hours after having moved out.

“I am without illusions”

During his second inauguration speech, he known as on parliamentarians to “pull together” and to exhibit ” responsibility “. “I am without illusions, he said. But I will carry out my task until the situation of the country and the institutions suggest it to me, until my strength allows me to do so. »

December 2014. This time his decision is made. He throws in the towel. Did his sacrifice change things? We doubt it when we hear him say it in his last speeches “destructive pathology” anti-politics. We nonetheless doubt it when he mocks the “careerism” of his friends, condemns “buying favors”vilifies “businessmanship”and regrets “bureaucratic routine”. Even Matteo Renzi, whom he appointed head of authorities in February 2014, might acknowledge himself in an allusion to the “sellers of inordinate hopes”. Bitter, certainly, disillusioned, maybe, the previous man retires. He is 90 years previous.