Draghi, the former president of the European Central Bank, thanked those present in the Lower House, appearing relaxed and cheerful.

The prime minister, Italy’s sixth in a decade, received a standing ovation.

“Even central bankers have their hearts touched sometimes,” he quipped.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Draghi for his “unwavering support”.

“I’m convinced that the Italian people’s active support of Ukraine will continue,” he tweeted.

Draghi’s resignation comes in the wake of the government’s collapse, as three of the political parties in his coalition snubbed a confidence vote.

Civil Service Minister Renato Brunetta announced that he was quitting Forza Italia after the centre-right group contributed to the coalition’s collapse.

“Those who put partisan interests ahead of the country’s needs at such a grave time are irresponsible,” he said.

“The increasingly tight-knit leadership of Forza Italia has fuelled the worst form of nationalist populism.

“They have sacrificed a champion like Draghi, the pride of Italy around the world, in pursuit of short-sighted electoral opportunism.”

Mattarella stated on Thursday that he had signed a decree to dissolve parliament, and that elections would take place later this year, on 25 September.

“The period we’re going through does not allow for any pause in [government] action which is needed to counter the economic and social crisis, and rising inflation,” the president said.

On Monday, a poll from the SWG institute indicated that the far-right political group, Brothers of Italy, is tipped to lead a conservative coalition, made up of the League and Forza Italia.

Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the Brothers of Italy, is predicted to be the country’s next prime minister.

The poll suggests that the Democratic party (PD) may be forced to ally with the Five Star Movement, if it has a chance of beating the conservative bloc.

The September election will be the first national election held in autumn for more than a century, as the second half of the year is usually consumed by passing budget laws through parliament.