Italian Premier Berlusconi to resign
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-04-30 07:29
Prodi, a former European Commission president, has made much of his five
years in Brussels where he stood on a world stage and earned a reputation for
seriousness -- a campaign motto he coined to contrast with Berlusconi's
flamboyance.
He saw EU expansion and the introduction of the euro to fruition, but had
only limited success in his attempts to stamp out waste and fraud. He left many
cold with his lack of communication skills and presence.
While waiting for Berlusconi to step down, Prodi has been working with his
partners to try to put together a cabinet.
Prodi managed to get his candidate elected speaker of the Senate at the
fourth attempt on Saturday, but the drawn-out vote revealed coalition cracks
that bode ill for future stability.
Prodi made light of the problems ahead after his man finally clinched victory
with 165 votes in the 322-seat Senate, against 156 for the centre right's
candidate, 87-year-old elder statesman Giulio Andreotti.
"Today we have a positive situation and I believe the legislature can begin
well," Prodi told reporters.
Earlier on Saturday, veteran communist leader Fausto Bertinotti, was elected
president of the Chamber of Deputies.
Prodi's spokesman Silvio Sircana told Reuters the election of speakers for
both parliamentary houses had forced Berlusconi to quit. "It's just normal
procedure. He was obliged to resign at the first reasonable opportunity," said
Sircana.
Ciampi would normally have the task of asking Prodi to form a government, but
his term of office expires in mid-May and he has signalled the job should fall
to his successor. Prodi would like to be nominated before then.
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