Draghi returned early from the NATO summit in Madrid on Wednesday and met with President Sergio Mattarella on Thursday.
“I’m optimistic that the government is not at risk,” Draghi said.
“I never made the alleged requests regarding the Five Star Movement.”
The prime minister was said to have asked Five Star Movement founder Beppe Grillo to oust the party’s current leader, Conte, from the group.
Draghi went on to rule out a re-shuffle, insisting that the success of his government was due to the generosity of the parties that supported him.
The prime minister’s office denied that Draghi sought to have Conte removed and stated that the reason for his early return from Madrid was to prepare for a cabinet meeting regarding rapidly increasing energy prices on Thursday.
There is reportedly a growing number of Five Star Movement members exerting pressure on Conte to pull out of the national unity coalition and lend external support to the current government.
Friction with the coalition in power has been at an all-time high in recent weeks, in the wake of Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio’s exit from the Five Star Movement.
Conte has expressed his fury over the matter:
“Grillo told me about the phone calls between him and Draghi,” Conte said.
“I would like to clarify that we’re a community and that we work together.
“I find it appalling that a prime minister is interfering in the matters of the political parties that support him.
“Our attitude – which I have always defined as loyal, constructive and just – towards the government has not changed, even in light of these serious matters.
“This is because our goal is not to support Draghi; it’s to support and protect the interests of the Italian people.”
