The Italian Parliament fails to elect a President of the Republic in the fourth round of voting

 The Italian Parliament failed to elect a new President of the Republic at the conclusion of the fourth round of voting, thus continuing the state of uncertainty surrounding the future of Prime Minister Mario Draghi and his government.

The Italian parties did not reach an agreement on an alternative candidate for Draghi, whose election as President of the Republic is feared to lead to the downfall of the government.

 Like its three predecessors, this fourth round of voting took place in the Chamber of Deputies in Rome, during which right-wing voters abstained, while leftists voted with a white paper.

The President of the Republic is elected for a term of seven years by indirect suffrage by members of the House of Representatives and the Senate (629 deputies + 321 senators), in addition to 58 delegates from the regions, a total of 1,008 "major electors".

 The Italians had hoped that this round would lead to a result, because an absolute majority became sufficient to elect a president, after a two-thirds majority was required to win the first three rounds.  A fifth round of voting will take place on Friday.

 The President of the Republic in Italy has an honorary role.  These elections revolve around the chances of Mario Draghi, who did not announce his candidacy, but expressed his desire to take the position if he obtains the support of the necessary majority.

 Draghi, the former president of the European Central Bank, has long been the favorite for this position, but the parties fear that if his ambition is met, the prime ministerial post he has held since 2021 will remain vacant.  Many also fear calling for early legislative elections, when the mandate of the House of Representatives expires in 2023.

No political alliance currently enjoys an absolute majority in the Italian Parliament, but all parties, with the exception of the far-right "Fratelli d'Italia", participate in the coalition headed by Draghi.

 The election of Draghi as the president of the option may block the necessary reforms in order to secure the billions of euros that Italy was promised under the European economic recovery plan.

 Italy is the largest beneficiary of this program, which will receive about 200 billion euros ($ 225 billion).

 And the leader of the (anti-immigration) League, Matteo Salvini, said Thursday that Draghi was "precious in his current place."

 It is difficult to predict the outcome of the presidential elections in Italy, due to the absence of official candidates and a secret ballot, the results of which may lead to fluctuations.

 Among the most recent names circulating for the presidency of the Republic are the former President of the House of Representatives, Pier Ferdinando Cassini, and the current President of the Senate, Elisabetta Casellati, who will become the first woman to lead the country if elected.