Over half of the Italian population,
52%, see Premier Mario Draghi as the figure best equipped to be
the nation's next president, according to a SWG poll released on
Tuesday.
This figure rises to 58% among centre-right voters and 71% among
centre-left ones.
Lawmakers from both houses of parliament and regional
representatives are set to start the process of electing a new
head of State on January 24 with President Sergio Mattarella's
seven-year term coming to a close.
If former ECB chief Draghi is elected president, it could lead
to early elections.
This is because many find it hard to imagine the broad spectrum
of parties supporting his national unity executive agreeing to
get behind another figure.
The second-best candidate for the Italian people is Justice
Minister Marta Cartabia, according to the poll, with 29% seeing
her as good fit for the job, followed by European Economic
Affairs Commissioner and ex-premier Paolo Gentiloni on 28% and
Senate Speaker Elisabetta Casellati on 26%.
Around 59% of voters would like to see a president who is not
aligned to a political area.
However, 39% of centre-right voters would like ex-premier and
media billionaire Silvio Berlusconi to become head of State, the
poll said.
The level of support for Berlusconi being president falls to 18%
among the overall population, the poll said.
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