Matteo Renzi

"Good evening, I'm Mateo": it is unusual for a former prime minister to introduce himself to you with his given name. But 46-year-old Matteo Renzi (in addition to the well-known Mediterranean relaxed demeanor) has this comfort of a person who managed to reach the top very young.

Calling on former ECB chief Mario Draghi to form a coalition government may have been Italian President Sergio Mattarella's option of last resort, other than calling early elections. And Draghi, "the Italian who saved the euro," could just turn out to be "the European who saves Italy," as former prime minister Matteo Renzi, put it.

Former European bank chief Mario Draghi agreed on Feb. 3 to try to form a non-political government to steer Italy through the coronavirus pandemic after last-ditch negotiations among political parties failed to produce a viable governing coalition.

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte resigned on Jan. 26 after a key coalition ally pulled his party's support over Conte's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, setting the stage for consultations this week to determine if he can form a third government.

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte intends to offer his resignation on Jan. 26, his office said on Jan. 25, a move seen as gamble that the embattled leader will get a fresh mandate from the president to try to forge a more viable coalition.

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte squeaked through a crucial Senate confidence vote on Jan. 19 night, allowing him to keep his wobbly coalition afloat but failing to secure the reliable support needed from lawmakers to help him effectively govern the country with its pandemic-pummeled economy.

Italy was plunged into political crisis on Jan. 13 after former premier Matteo Renzi withdrew his party from the ruling coalition, risking the collapse of the government in the middle of a raging coronavirus pandemic.

The Italian parliament Thursday gave its final go-ahead to a highly contested electoral law that will shape the results of next year's general election to the advantage of established parties, Politico writes.

Former President Barack Obama will reportedly pocket a staggering 3 million dollars today for delivering a speech to a sold-out audience in Milan as part of his lucrative post-presidential speaking tour.

Matteo Renzi easily regained the leadership of his Democratic Party (PD) in primaries Sunday, but Italy's former prime minister faces a much harder task in his bid to return to power, writes Politico.