Italian media have been speculating for weeks on Draghi’s possible presidential ambitions, given that President Sergio Mattarella’s seven-year term expires in February and the wide support Draghi received as prime minister from political parties. Italians began to erode.

The Italian presidency has limited powers and is largely ceremonial. But the president plays a key role in resolving political impasses, and having the internationally respected Draghi at the Quirinal Palace would send a signal of Italian stability and credibility for another seven years.

Draghi, 74, did not respond directly on Wednesday when he was repeatedly asked about his future at a year-end press conference.

“My personal fate is absolutely irrelevant,” he said. “I don’t have any particular aspirations of one type or another. I am a man, a nonno (grandfather) if you will, in the service of institutions.

But he stressed that neither he nor his government were essential to continuing Italy’s fight against the pandemic or implementing its € 261 billion stimulus package, which includes billions of dollars. ‘investments in sustainable development, digital transformation and structural reforms.

“We have created the conditions so that work on the (plan) can continue,” he said. “The government created these conditions, regardless of who will be (responsible). People are always important, but the other aspect is that it is also important that the government is supported by the majority ”in parliament.

Once again this week, the Financial Times estimated that Draghi would best serve Italy by ascending to the presidency, as his government could last at most a few more months before political forces have an “electoral fever” before the elections. legislative elections planned for 2023.

Italy’s president called on Draghi to lead a broad-based government in February after a political crisis that saw the collapse of Giuseppe Conte’s government. It was a delicate time in which the country needed to assert credible and stable leadership to persuade the European Commission to hand it billions in grants and loans for pandemic recovery.

Draghi recalled that his government was born at the request of Mattarella, and declared that he had done “much of what he was called upon to do”, thanks to the support of the political forces which supported him, the Center-left Democratic Party to center-right Forza Italia.

Italy, where the epidemic first broke out in Europe in February 2020, has vaccinated more than 85% of those over 12 years old. It has seen a further increase in the number of cases, although it is currently doing better than other countries in Western Europe. Economic growth is forecast at around 6% this year, after losing nearly 9% last year.