Italian politicians pick 80-year-old ex-Communist as president

THE Italian Parliament elected an 80-year-old former Communist to be president yesterday, paving the way for a government headed by centre-left leader Romano Prodi to be formed within days.

Giorgio Napolitano, a widely respected senator-for-life, was chosen during the fourth round of voting by some 1,000 electors, including members of both of parliament and regional representatives.

He was proclaimed Italy’s new president by the head of the lower Chamber of Deputies, Fausto Bertinotti, after winning 543 votes — well above the minimum 505 necessary for victory. A long found of applause erupted in Parliament.

The vote puts Mr Prodi a step closer to forming a government, following his narrow victory in April’s parliamentary elections.

The head of state is a largely ceremonial figure who has the task of giving mandates to try to put together new governments.

Outgoing President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi had declined to do so as his seven-year-term was running out, preferring to leave that task to his successor.

Mr Prodi said Mr Napolitano, who is the first former communist to become president, would represent all Italians, even if the centre-right didn’t support him in the vote. Outgoing Premier Silvio Berlusconi urged Mr Napolitano to be even-handed in carrying out his functions.

Voting for a president began on Monday, but no candidate won the necessary two-thirds in the first three rounds of balloting. By the fourth round, the margin for victory dropped to an absolute majority. With the centre-left united behind Mr Napolitano, his win had been expected.

Mr Napolitano’s credentials include stints as parliament speaker — between 1992-94 — and minister of interior in the first government headed by Prodi between 1996-98.

He was always known for his moderate, pro-Western stance, and he was among the biggest supporters of the reform that led Communists to change the party’s name and drop the hammer-and-sickle symbol.

Mr Napolitano also was optimistic before the vote, saying that as president he would be above the political fray.

Some members in Mr Berlusconi’s alliance praised the well-respected Mr Napolitano and even said they might break ranks and support him.

But the final count showed that they largely united against him.

The head of state is traditionally seen as a unifying figuring in Italy.