Premier Mario Draghi is set to press
ahead with his plan to raise Italy's defence spending to 2% of
GDP, in line with its NATO commitments, despite the opposition
of the 5-Star Movement (M5S), sources said after he had talks
with M5S leader Giuseppe Conte and President Sergio Mattarella
on Tuesday.
Draghi told ex-premier Conte that the country's international
commitments could not be thrown into doubt at "such a delicate
time" following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, adding that, if
this were to happen, the pact that holds together the broad
coalition of his national unity government would disintegrate,
the sources said.
After meeting Conte, Draghi had talks with Mattarella, who
backed the premier's position, sources said.
"I haven't caused a crisis of government," Conte told La7
television.
"All I say is that, if we have to plan military spending, a
party of the ruling majority can have a say about the time
frame".
On Thursday the Senate is set to vote on the government's decree
with measures linked to the effects of the Ukraine war and a
motion by the opposition Brothers of Italy (FdI) party about
taking defence spending up to the 2% threshold.
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