Groups of ‘wise men’ bid to end Italian deadlock

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano expressed despair yesterday at fierce criticism of his latest plan to end a post-election deadlock that has raised fears of months of instability in the eurozone’s third largest economy.

Two groups of “wise men” appointed by Napolitano to try to forge a policy compromise between squabbling parties to end the impasse since the Feb 24-25 election started work yesterday. Napolitano said they would report back in eight to 10 days.

The 87-year-old reacted angrily to suggestions from the centre-right of Silvio Berlusconi that his plan, which came after all other efforts to find a government failed, were a waste of time which the economy could ill afford.