Prodi's candidate elected president
(AP)
Updated: 2006-05-10 20:05
Italy elected a new president on Wednesday, ending a lengthy period of
political limbo and opening the way for Romano Prodi to become prime minister
more than a month after beating Silvio Berlusconi at the polls.
Giorgio Napolitano (C), senator of Democrats
of the Left and one of the candidates for the election of the new head of
state, holds his ballot after the vote at the Italian Parliament in Rome
May 8, 2006. Napolitano, an ex-communist, has won enough votes to become
Italy's new president, according to a provisional ballot count still under
way on May 10 in parliament. [Reuters] |
Prodi's candidate, Giorgio Napolitano, an ex-communist 80-year-old life
senator, secured 543 votes from the "grand electors" -- parliamentarians and
regional representatives -- 38 more than the absolute majority needed.
The result is an important victory for Prodi who cannot take office until the
new president is in place and gives him a mandate to form a government.
After the vote, Prodi told reporters he expected to be able to swear in his
new government by next Wednesday -- after Napolitano takes over as head of state
from outgoing President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.
The result was the latest blow for outgoing Prime Minister Berlusconi who had
refused to back Napolitano, saying his voters would not understand if his bloc
backed a former communist.
But Prodi's coalition pushed their candidate through against the wishes of
the opposition after three initial rounds of voting -- during which a two-thirds
majority was needed -- resulted in political stalemate.
Berlusconi grudgingly acknowledged Napolitano's election. "We are still
convinced that half of the country has been excluded," he said. "This is not the
will of the people but we wish him well and good work.
|
