Posted on 05/02/2006 6:22:32 AM PDT by eyespysomething
ROME - Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the longest-serving leader in postwar Italy, resigned Tuesday to make way for a center-left government led by Romano Prodi that must re-energize a moribund economy.
President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi asked Berlusconi to remain on as caretaker prime minister during their 30-minute meeting at the Quirinale Palace.
"The president of the republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, has met this morning with Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who has handed in the resignation of the Cabinet over which he presides," the president's office said in a statement.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi asked Berlusconi to remain on as caretaker prime minister during their 30-minute meeting at the Quirinale Palace.
"The president of the republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, has met this morning with Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who has handed in the resignation of the Cabinet over which he presides," the president's office said in a statement.
Berlusconi, leader of the conservatives elected in 2001, had steadfastly refused to concede defeat since the nation's April 9-10 elections.
Berlusconi, who earlier Tuesday presided over a brief Cabinet meeting during which he announced his intention to resign, made no comments to reporters as he left Ciampi's office.
"Democracy goes on, sometimes slowly, but it does," Prodi said in welcoming the move. "It is a very important step."
It was not clear if Ciampi would immediately give Prodi — whose center-left coalition scored a narrow election victory over Berlusconi and his conservative allies — the mandate to form a government.
But Ciampi, whose term expires May 18, had indicated he wants the next president to assume that duty.
"I hope the political vacuum doesn't go on for too long," Prodi said.
Prodi said he was still working on his Cabinet lineup, which already has provoked some grumbling in his coalition.
"My aim is to be ready, but I have no date to suggest to President Ciampi," Prodi told reporters Monday.
"If he gives me the mandate soon, I have to have the (Cabinet) list in my pocket. If, instead, the mandate is given to me a few days later, I'll keep it (in the pocket) a few more days."
Ciampi has stressed the need for Italy to quickly revive the country's zero-growth economy. He said political tensions must ease if the nation is to work together on that goal.
Berlusconi had vowed to fight the election results through legal challenges. He also has pledged to lead fierce political opposition in the legislature.
"A cycle is over. These five years are over," Berlusconi's justice minister, Roberto Castelli, told reporters after the Cabinet meeting. "We will go on. We will be the opposition."
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Associated Press reporters Marta Falconi and Ariel David contributed to this report.
Prodi will rollback/eliminate any tax cuts, economic improvements Berlusconi did, and the 0 rate growth Italy has had for a long time will drop to a negative.
Too bad he was such a goofball. Prodi is a socialist communists through and through.
I hope the Italians can get through this ok.
I am not well-versed in the history of Italy. Can anyone tell me what their political scene was like before Mussolini came to power?
Yes.
Heck, he was President of the EU. Is this really what the Italians want?
Of course, Berlusconi allowed voting from Italians around the world. That's why he lost.
Be prepared for paralysis in Italy. Prodi's coalition is a rag-tag bunch of leftists and other crazies. They won't be able to get a new parking ticket law passed. There's a good likelihood that there will be another election within a year.
Sheesh. I'll ping you since no one else seems interested that Berlusconi resigned.
Plus I get a BTTT, lol.
That's right. "Center-left" is European codeword for bedwetting, pink Che T-shirt wearing, communist. The center in Europe is about equivalent to Dennis Kucinich here (he'd be a moderate).
the 0 rate growth Italy has had for a long time will drop to a negative
Amazing that such a fascinating nation with such a tremendous impact on the world over the past 2000 years could have sunk so low. But with a history like Italy's, I'm sure the Italian people are unconcerned - they can take a long term view ...
In the mid to late 1800s the individual states or regions (not sure how best to describe them other than essentially feudal lands) began to join together through a nationalism similar to that in Germany about the same time (think Bismark).
Prior to WWI, the unified Italy was allied with Germany but broke that alliance to side with the allies.
After WWI, Italy (like the rest of the world) was hit by depression. Though not to the same extent as Germany, it was close, and that's why the people accepted fascism.
Also, in Italy there were no strong parties (I think it's still like that to some degree). That made for a weak government where a strong party was able to step in and take rule.
Welcome to FreeRepublic.
Sorry. What I meant to say was: Welcome to FreeRepublic. What flaming are you talking about?
Yes, you have a fractured left coalition in power by the slimmest of margins, and a fractured right just out of power, with 2-3 percent floating around in the center. So in truth, not much will be able to be done, and as an earlier poster said, they may have another election sooner than later. That would match what your second statement says.
To energize the economy install communism. That's what they are doing in south America, should work in Italy --- negative growth is good.
Wonder why the Europeans think no one wants to invest in Europe -- question of the day.
Doncha know? Any slight disagreement with the left is a slanderous, heinous attack and flaming, while screaming for the impeachment of President Bush and hoping for VP Cheney's heart to give out is simply a "difference of opinion".
Prodi is going to steal money from the rich and flush it down the toilet. Those who manufacture will either move out of country or go bankrupt and close. And Italy will go into recession. At least the trains will run on time.
Atlas shrugs.
You forgot the incalculable damage to Italian prestige inflicted by AC Milan's failure to advance in the Champions League.
OUCH!
Berlusconi should have lost his job for that, and that alone. Forza Milan!
He was a good friend to us in our hour of need...he will be missed.
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