Italy’s leader wins confidence vote but coalition in doubt

President of the Senate Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati reads out the vote result at the Senate in Rome (Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)

Italian Premier Mario Draghi has won a confidence vote in the Senate but the future of his pandemic unity government was in doubt after the populist 5-Star Movement boycotted the vote, throwing his coalition into crisis.

The vote was 172-39 on a relief Bill to help Italians facing soaring energy costs, but 5-Stars senators were absent after confirming they would not participate in the vote.