Mario Draghi, Italy’s reformist prime minister, resigns

turned adversaries, his coalition in tatters and his government facing extinction, Mario Draghi nevertheless managed to retain his wry sense of humour. As passions flared in a debate in the Senate on July 20th on a motion of confidence in his government, one of the speakers took aim at Mr Draghi’s status as an unelected technocrat. “Enough of appointed prime ministers,” the senator cried. “True,” exclaimed Mr Draghi, shortly before getting up to leave the chamber. Asked if he was going to see the president, Sergio Mattarella, to confirm his resignation, Mr Draghi replied, “For now, I’m just taking the lift.”