Italy’s government under Prime Minister Mario Draghi is close to collapse after populist coalition partner Five Star pulled out of a major confidence vote. The ex-head of the European Central Bank has led a unity government since February 2021. But Five Star leader Giuseppe Conte accused him of not doing enough to tackle the cost of living crisis. Despite comfortably winning Thursday’s vote in the Senate, Mr Draghi’s political future is now in doubt. The prime minister has insisted repeatedly that the government will not continue without Five Star. After the vote he immediately set off to see President Sergio Mattarella, who was expected to ask him to remain in office. If the man dubbed “Super Mario” does decide to resign for lack of political support, Italians may be asked to go to the polls as early as this autumn.(BBC)…[+]