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Italian government 'mulling over declaring state of war emergency'

Max Civili
Press TV, Rome

Some Italian media say the government is considering introducing a new state of emergency linked to the conflict in Ukraine.

The looming energy crisis and the grave deterioration of the country's socio-economic situation would be among the reasons.

It was March 31 when the Italian government put an end to a two-year state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Just over a month later, some Italian media are reporting that the Mario Draghi government is mulling over issuing a new state of emergency linked, this time, to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Some newspapers have even suggested that Draghi is considering postponing next year's general election.

The Ukraine war and the subsequent sanctions imposed on Moscow, in addition to Rome's decision to significantly cut off its supply of Russian gas, have had a ferocious impact on Italy's already struggling economy.

The national association of entrepreneurs in Confindustria has recently said Italy's economy is heading for recession, which is defined by two-quarters of GDP negative growth .

Last month the Italian government revised its 2022 economic growth forecast to 3.1% from a 4.7% projection made last September, a forecast considered optimistic by most independent bodies.

Economists have warned that surging food and energy prices will seriously affect Italians’ spending power, leading to an excruciating decline in domestic demand

It is also estimated that half-a-million workers are expected to lose their job should Italy completely halt its gas supplies from Russia.

Last year Italy had recorded a strong recovery from its economic contraction of nearly 9% in 2020 due to the restrictions adopted to counter the Covid crisis.

That recovery has been canceled by the measures undertaken to sanction Russia over the conflict in Ukraine.


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