(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 14 - Premier Mario Draghi's executive is on the brink of a formal crisis of government after 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader Giuseppe Conte said the group's Senators will leave the chamber when a confidence vote takes place on Thursday on an aid package for the cost-of-living crisis.
    Former European Central Bank (ECB) President Draghi has said he will not continue with his government of national unity without the support of the M5S.
    Draghi's administration was formed early in 2021 to address the COVID-19 pandemic and manage almost 200 billion euros in grants and low-interest loans from the European Union for Italy's National Resilience and Recovery Plan (NRRP) after ex-premier Conte's second government collapsed.
    Up to now Draghi's executive had been supported by all the major parties in parliament, except for the right-wing Brothers of Italy (FdI) party.
    On Thursday Relations with Parliament Minister Federico D'Incà, a M5S lawmaker who opposed Conte's stance, tried to mediate and find a way for the decree to pass without it being put to confidence vote.
    But sources said Draghi rejected this idea as he saw a confidence vote as the only way forward.
    If the Draghi government collapses, it may be necessary for Italy to hold early elections in the autumn.
    This is what League leader Matteo Salvini and FdI head Giorgio Meloni have been calling for.
    On Thursday Salvini spoke of "full harmony within he centre.right" alliance, which also include ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia as well as FdI and he League. (ANSA).