Rome, Feb 18 (AFP/APP): Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi was set Thursday to win the final parliamentary seal of approval for his government, allowing him to focus on his country’s unprecedented health and economic crisis. After securing the overwhelming support of the Senate for his national unity government late Wednesday, the former European Central Bank (ECB) chief was lined up to obtain the backing of the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies. Draghi is taking over at a particularly difficult time for Italy, where the coronavirus pandemic has killed almost 100,000 people and sent the economy plunging by a record 8.9 percent last year. “There has never been in my long professional life a moment of such intense emotion and so much responsibility,” the 73-year-old economist said in his inaugural speech at the Senate. The upper chamber late Wednesday backed the new government by a 262-40 margin, with two abstentions. Given that nearly all parties support him, Draghi was expected to secure equally wide support in the lower house on Thursday evening. He has pledged to use “all means” to fight the pandemic, starting with a faster vaccination programme. He also sketched out an ambitious reform plan, in line with European Union expectations. Addressing the lower … Continue reading Mario Draghi set to win the final parliamentary seal of approval for his government