Mario Draghi is willing to stay on as prime minister of Italy, but only if there is unity within the coalition and confidence is restored. He shared his conditions in parliament on Wednesday, where he must try to save his government from President Sergio Mattarella.

Draghi submitted his resignation to Mattarella last week, but it was refused. He wanted to resign because the Five Star Movement, a coalition partner, refused to participate in a confidence vote on billions in aid measures. Draghi argued that a trust pact had been broken.

“Are the parties and your parliamentarians ready to restore this pact?” Draghi asked in his address to the upper house. He added that this is what the Italian people are demanding. Mayors, trade union leaders, and employers’ organizations have massively called on the former president of the European Central Bank (ECB) to stay on as head of government.

Draghi had enough support to continue to rule without the Five Star Movement but turned down that option because he was initially tasked with leading a coalition with parties across the political spectrum.

The senators will hold a confidence vote after a debate on the speech, to which Draghi will also respond. The outcome is likely to be announced early in the evening. If Draghi decides that the government can no longer rule, the president will almost certainly call early elections. Draghi has been prime minister of Italy since February 2021.