by Ayfer Selamoğlu

We are familiar with the legends about King Arthur, the leader of the Knights of the Round Table, and the famous sword Excalibur. The country is about to fall into turmoil with the death of the British king Uther Pendragon. The wizard Merlin holds a meeting with the nobles to determine the new king. And suddenly a sword appears on one of the stones of the churchyard. The inscription on the stone reads: “Whoever draws this sword will be the legitimate king of Britain”. Many knights try to pull out the sword but fail. The person who removes the sword stuck in the stone will become the owner of the throne. But the important thing is not to acquire the sword, but to know how to use it correctly. This is where the magician Merlin comes into play again. With the philosophy “Knowledge and wisdom are the greatest power”, he teaches Arthur, whom he knows to be a special child, to use his mind. After successfully passing all the training stages, Arthur finally pulls the sword that no one could pull out of the stone and becomes king at the age of 15…

Today, there is a sword waiting to be drawn in the heart of Italy. It is in such a sensitive place that removing it without damaging other organs really requires intelligence, dedication and skill. The term of office of the beloved and respected President Sergio Mattarella ends on February 3. We know he doesn’’t want to continue for another term. Prime Minister Mario Draghi did not announce his candidacy, but his name is one of the names discussed. Silvio Berlusconi, the candidate of the centre-right alliance parties, withdrew his candidacy. In doing so, he declared that they would veto Mario Draghi’s candidacy “for the stability of the country” and make a joint proposal as a centre-right alliance. Afterwards, Matteo Salvini said, “It would be dangerous to remove Draghi from the presidency of the Council. The centre-right will vote in a compact way from start to finish. We will also nominate our candidate”. Political parties and leaders are in constant conversation. After Silvio Berlusconi backed out, neither side has formally proposed a candidate, and all parliamentary groups are working towards a high-profile solution that is shared as much as possible. A second vote was also made. But still no agreed-upon name! White votes continue to dominate…

The possibility of Prime Minister Draghi going to Quirinale as President is like Hamlet, a mirror of the inner world of an individual struggling with waves in a turbulent sea.  Shakespeare’s character Hamlet, “To be or not to be. That’s the whole point!” says. And “To die or to sleep? To survive, or to settle matters in a murderous way?” seeks answers to questions. Today, the parliament is in the same dilemma. These questions are: “To be afraid or not to be afraid, or to dare or not to dare. This is the whole point” we can think…

This is because for the first time in the history of the republic, the fate of the government is closely linked to what will happen in Quirinale. The idea of ​​Dragi ascending Rome’s highest peak comes from many quarters. However, concerns are frequently expressed that Draghi’s visit to the palace will affect the structure and majority of the government, and that this will reflect negatively on the country. Considering the critical situation in the world and Italy due to the pandemic, the ongoing negative effects of Corona, the delicate balance of the economy, Draghi’s career accepted in the international system, his former European Central Bank President and his success in the multi-part coalition government, Mario Draghi’s Going to Quirinale is not welcomed. When the search for a new government, election and re-election concerns are added to this if he becomes the President, the name Draghi is seen as a person who should remain at the helm as the Prime Minister – despite his great equipment. The Economist, who crowned Italy as the country of the year last December, also wrote an article stating that being President of Draghi would be risky for the country. Messages from the European Union were also in this direction…

There are various suggestions to overcome this dilemma. For example, Vittorio Sgarbi said, “The main route would be to elect Prime Minister Draghi at the fourth-fifth meeting. If you specify the prime minister, it means you have resolved everything in the government. You could appoint some sort of Count, maybe a woman,” he says. Another view says, “It could be Mario Draghi in Quirinale, Elisabetta Belloni in Palazza Chigi.” The name of Professor Andrea Riccardi, a world-renowned academician, founder of the Sant’Egidio Society, the only Italian to have the Charlemagne Prize, is being put forward. And Pier Ferdinando Casini, one of the popular names, breaks his silence with a post on Instagram where he declares his love for politics. “My passion for politics is my life!!” He adds a black and white photograph. Giorgia Meloni brings up Carlo Nordio, a former magistrate and longtime attorney general in Venice, as a possible candidate. And suggestions such as extending President Mattarella’s mandate for a few years, Draghi staying at the head of the government during this period, implementing reforms and investments, and Draghi being elected president after the 2023 general elections are also frequently mentioned.

Finally, League Party leader Matteo Salvini stated that the presidents elected in Italy for the last 30 years were either directly elected from within the centre-left or were the names suggested by the centre-left, and said that this time they wanted a name proposed by the centre-right to become the president. Salvini informed that the centre-right presented three names, including former Senate President Marcello Pera, former Milan Mayor Letizia Moratti and former judge Carlo Nordio, as presidential candidates to the centre-left.

The situation is still complex and troubling. The ship sails in choppy waters. On the other hand, everyone knows that Italian politics always present unexpected surprises. But it wouldn’t be a surprise if a well-equipped candidate skillfully draws the magic sword from the heart of Italy, and gathers all parties like the legendary King Arthur and his knights at the “table of interests of the country”…