The soon-to-be-former Italian PM Mario Draghi just won the Statesman of the Year award in New York. Congratulations came from the international scene, including the 99 years old Henry Kissinger.
One week before a General Election in Italy that might change the political balance in Europe, outgoing Prime Minister Mario Draghi was awarded the “Statesman of the Year” award. The ceremony, chaired by the Appeal for Conscience Foundation, took place in New York last monday. In the gala room, sitting behind a triumphant Mario Draghi, sat the 99 years old Henry Kissinger, a long time master of world politics.
It doesn’t seem much since Kissinger, at the time American Secretary of State under the Nixon administration, advised Italian politician Aldo Moro to keep away from a compromise with the Italian communist party. It was 1974, and four years later Aldo Moro would be found in the trunk of a car shot dead by the same communists he was trying to approach.
Since then 50 years have passed, and Italy seems to have learned the lesson to follow American advice. The Cold War has ended but the geopolitical climate seems to be almost the same, perhaps even colder given the current gas prices…
Indeed, many see the war in Ukraine as a continuation of the Cold War, and Mario Draghi was one of the most influential European leaders to face the crisis, hence the award. Rabbi Arthur Schneier, President of the Appeal for Conscience Foundation, didn’t out-right mention Ukraine in his statement, but the subtext was obvious. In his opinion, Mario Draghi was worthy of the Statesman of the Year award thanks to his “financial, political, and economic expertise to deal with the complex economic, humanitarian and geopolitical issues facing the world today”.
How to face autocracies with dialogue
In his speech, Mario Draghi underlined the importance of dialogue in the policy-making profession. He warned that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine might impede such dialogue, but western leaders must not stop their efforts for peace.
“We must be clear and vocal about the founding values of our societies. I am referring to our belief in democracy, the rule of law, our respect for human rights, our commitment to global solidarity.”, Draghi said, stating that he remains optimistic for the future. Ukraine’s commitment and heroism will eventually prevail, in his opinion.
The end of Mario Draghi
Despite this award and the ever so high international respect, Mario Draghi will step down as Italian Prime Minister next week. After the General Elections on the 25th of September, a new government will be formed and it is unlikely that Mario Draghi will retain his position as Italy’s guide.
He signed his dimissions on the 20th of July, following a political crisis that saw several parties declaring a loss of trust in his government. In hindsight, the reasons for this crisis aren’t very clear, surely not clear at all in the eyes of foreign leaders who saw Draghi as an economical guide. It must not be forgotten, however, that Mario Draghi does not belong to any political party, and his rule was always going to be temporary. The future of Italy might change the balance in Europe, and nobody knows where the scale will tick.
