Berlusconi won't concede defeat in Italy
Updated: 2006-04-12 17:20
Political uncertainty clouded Italy's future as Premier
Silvio Berlusconi
refused to concede defeat to center-left leader Romano Prodi in one of
the closest elections in the country's recent history.
Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi gestures
during a press conference at Chigi palace, the Premier's office, in Rome,
Tuesday, April 11, 2006. Berlusconi suggested Tuesday that Italy could
follow Germany's lead and create a 'grand coalition'' if final results
show neither side has control of both houses of parliament.
[AP] |
Berlusconi, alleging
irregularities, demanded a recount, a process that could take weeks. "Nobody now
can say they have won," he said Tuesday.
Prodi emerged the winner of the election by a razor-thin margin and promised
to form a strong government able to run a deeply divided country mired in
economic stagnation.
He told Europe 1 radio on Wednesday that discussions would get under way in
the next few days to select members of his Cabinet and parliament would soon
choose a new president who will give his coalition the mandate to govern. He
said a day earlier he was not worried by a recount, describing Berlusconi's
complaints as "out of line."
However, even if the result is confirmed, long-term prospects of a stable
government under Prodi look problematic. Many fear a return of the chaos that
has characterized recent Italian history. There have been 60 governments in
about as many years since the end of World War II.
The two candidates' comments capped a day of confusion
since millions of Italians went to cast ballots Sunday and Monday at the end of
bitter campaign.
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