President accepts Berlusconi's resignation
Premier Silvio Berlusconi handed the president his resignation today and pledged to form a new government to strengthen a coalition weakened by a sluggish economy and opposition to Italian involvement in Iraq.
The premier’s resignation brings to an end to Italy’s longest-serving government since World War II.
Berlusconi had been under pressure to resign since a stinging defeat in regional elections earlier this month.
President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi’s office confirmed in a statement that Berlusconi had tendered the resignation of his Cabinet.
Earlier, Berlusconi had addressed the Senate and informed the country of his plan to step down and form a new government and platform.
It is now up to Ciampi to designate a candidate to assemble a new government, or else dissolve parliament and call early elections.
Ciampi, who begins formal political consultations Thursday, is expected to give Berlusconi the mandate to form a new Cabinet.
