Italy looks to ‘Super Mario’ Draghi to end political crisis

Mario Draghi is credited with having saved the euro during Europe’s debt crisis (Alessandra Tarantino, Pool/AP)

Former European bank chief Mario Draghi has agreed 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 president Sergio Mattarella met with Mr Draghi, who is credited with having saved the euro during Europe’s debt crisis, and gave him a mandate to try to form a new government to replace caretaker premier Giuseppe Conte’s coalition of the 5-Star Movement and Democratic Party.