Berlusconi expected to resign
After weeks of refusing to concede election defeat, Italian conservative Premier Silvio Berlusconi was expected to lead a final cabinet meeting today and then resign, clearing the way for formation of a new government by centre-left leader Romano Prodi.
Italian state TV reported last night that Berlusconi would go to the presidential palace on the Quirinal Hill to hand in his resignation to President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi at about 1pm local time (noon Irish time) after the end of the cabinet meeting.
Ciampi was scheduled to fly later in the afternoon to the northern city of Leghorn, for an overnight visit.
Ciampi’s activities were being heavily watched for any clues to see if he would quickly give the mandate to form a government to Prodi, whose coalition scored a narrow victory over Berlusconi and his conservative allies in April 9 and 10 parliamentary elections.
While it is up to the Italian president to assign the mandate, Ciampi, whose term expires on May 18, had indicated he wanted the next president to take on that duty.
But there has been widespread speculation that Ciampi might change his mind to put an end to political limbo.
Prodi yesterday said he was still working on dividing up the ministries, which has already provoked some grumbling in his coalition.
“My aim is to be ready, but I have no date to suggest to President Ciampi,” Prodi said.
“If he gives me the mandate soon, I have to have the (cabinet) list in my pocket. If, instead, the mandate is given me a few days later, I’ll keep it (in the pocket) a few more days,” the centre-left leader said.
In a May Day speech yesterday, Ciampi stressed the need for Italy, including its politicians, to get down to business quickly to revive Italy’s economy, and said political tensions must ease if the nation is to work together on that goal.
Media mogul Berlusconi has vowed to continue his fight to keep the premiership through legal challenges of the vote outcome.
Berlusconi has also vowed to lead fierce political opposition in the legislature.
