Politicians show their support for Prodi comeback

Party leaders rallied behind Romano Prodi last night, boosting his chances of returning to office days after he resigned as Italian prime minister.

Centre-left politicians told the Italian president, who has been holding talks aimed at solving the political crisis, that they were ready to support any bids by Mr Prodi to return to the premiership.

Earlier, they all signed up to a new detailed government programme that Mr Prodi said would be “non-negotiable”.

Mr Prodi stepped down on Wednesday after an embarrassing parliamentary defeat over foreign policy.

Defections by radical leftists, who have been voicing opposition to various government policies, caused the defeat.

“We are convinced that this experience served as a lesson to all of us,” said Antonio Di Pietro, who serves as infrastructure minister.

Also among those who expressed their support were leaders of Communist parties and other radical leftists.

But even with the full backing of his coalition, Prodi’s majority at the senate remains minimal, raising fears that any further rebellion by his often-insubordinate allies might bring him down again.

Seeking to quell these fears, he has been scrambling to widen his support by luring in a handful of moderate senators. He is also trying to ensure the support of at least some of seven honorary senators appointed for life.

“I want to fight, but I need to have the strength,” Mr Prodi said, according to La Republica.

It will now be up to President Giorgio Napolitano to decide what to do next. The president might announce a decision as early as tonight or tomorrow.