Posted on 04/19/2006 11:57:01 PM PDT by familyop
Italys highest court on Wednesday cleared the way for Romano Prodi, the centre-left leader, to take over as prime minister by certifying his victory in last weeks hotly disputed general election.
Having reviewed several thousand contested ballot papers, the Court of Cassation confirmed that Mr Prodis alliance had defeated the centre-right government of Silvio Berlusconi, the premier who has governed Italy since 2001.
Mr Berlusconi refused last week to acknowledge Mr Prodis victory, but some politicians in his coalition have signalled their willingness to accept the result and go into opposition.
They calculate that, with a mere two-seat majority in the Senate, parliaments upper house, a Prodi government may not last long and the centre-right may have an opportunity to regain power in a fresh election.
Anyone who has a minimum of experience in the Senate knows that it is simply impossible to govern there with a majority even of 10 seats, said Roberto Antonione, a senator in Mr Berlusconis Forza Italia party.
Other politicians suspect that Mr Prodi may find it hard to control his multi-party coalition, which stretches from centrist ex-Christian Democrats to ardent communists, because he does not lead a party of his own.
Lex live: Italian bonds Click here However, Mr Prodi insists his government will not be weak, and he has been busy holding discussions with his allies in search of the compromises needed to distribute ministerial portfolios among his coalitions parties.
Perhaps the most important job is that of finance minister, for the new governments most urgent duty will be the approval of a four-year economic planning document that must outline steps to control Italys budget deficit and public debt.
The International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday Italys deficit would rise to 4 per cent of gross domestic product this year and 4.3 per cent in 2007, the year the Berlusconi government promised it would fall below 3 per cent.
Italys president says he will not serve second term Click here To reassure financial markets, Mr Prodi may appoint a non-party expert such as Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, a former member of the European Central Banks executive board, or Mario Monti, a former European commissioner for competition and the internal market.
Mr Prodi took similar action during his first premiership from 1996 to 1998, assigning the treasury ministry to Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, a former Bank of Italy governor. The aim was to show that his government would clean up Italys public finances in time to join the eurozone as a founder-member.
Mr Ciampi is now Italys head of state and, in a twist of fate, is proving reluctant to appoint Mr Prodi as prime minister quickly. Mr Ciampis seven-year presidential term ends on May 18, and he believes the task properly belongs to his successor.
A proposal to install Mr Berlusconi in the presidency was aired on Wednesday by Sandro Bondi, Forza Italias national co-ordinator, who said it would be a fair exchange for letting Mr Prodi become prime minister.
But Luciano Violante, a senior centre-left politician, dismissed the idea, saying: Its a strange country where its the new opposition that proposes candidates.
Oh great. Prodi might as well put on a turban now as Italy moves from "ally" to "Spaniard".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.