The supply of gas is a matter of the first order for Italy in its disengagement from Russia and, for this reason, the Prime Minister, Mario Draghi, will fly to Algeria this Monday to strengthen his energy agreement before clarifying on Wednesday if he resigns, in the midst of the serious crisis that shakes his Government.
The Italian National Unity Executive is reeling after one of its pieces, the 5 Star Movement (M5S), did not vote on a confidence motion. Faced with this check, Draghi announced his resignation on Thursday but the head of state, Sergio Mattarella, rejected it.
Firstly because the crisis must be settled in Parliament, surely on Wednesday, and secondly because beforehand the energy agreement with Algeria must be underpinned to ensure gas for the Italians next fall.
For this reason, in the midst of this unexpected political crisis, the prime minister will fly to Algiers on Monday to meet with the president of the African country, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, at the IV bilateral summit, from which agreements are expected in several areas. Although what matters most is to shore up the energy alliance, strengthened after the Ukrainian crisis.
Italy imports 90% of the gas it consumes and until the invasion of Ukraine, perpetrated on February 24, 40% came from Russian territory. That is why now, amid tensions with the Kremlin, he urgently tries to end that dependency.
Thus, in recent times the neighboring country has replaced Russia as the main supplier of gas to Italy, both countries linked by a pipe that crosses the Mediterranean and ends in Sicily (south).
Now what it is about is to strengthen that vital pact for Rome and the Algerian public agency APS recently reported that Algiers will increase the volume of gas sent to Italy by 4,000 million cubic meters as early as next week, reports Efe.
Draghi will travel with his foreign minister, Luigi Di Maio; the Interior, Luciana Lamorgese; Justice, Marta Cartabia; the Ecological Transition, Roberto Cingolani, with the energy portfolio; Infrastructure, Enrico Giovannini, and Equality, Elena Bonetti.
At first, it was planned that Draghi would remain in Algeria until Tuesday, as recognized by those around him, but given the political earthquake that has disturbed his summer, he will only be there on Monday, when a crucial week for the continuity of his government begins.
Well, on Wednesday he must present before Parliament the reasons that led him to present his resignation, frozen for the moment by the head of state, and clear his future.
National politics insists on the need for him to undergo a new investiture to finish the legislature in March 2023, since he continues to have the approval of a large parliamentary majority despite the Five Star fright.
His supporters allege that the country is going through an exceptional situation, in the midst of an inflationary wave, looking for gas to calm the energy crisis and while the necessary reforms are being implemented to receive the European funds from the Recovery Plan.
However, tempers are more than heated in his coalition and while the progressive Democratic Party advocates continuing to govern with the M5S, the right-wing Forza Italia of Silvio Berlusconi and the Salvini League reject it outright.
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