Italy's new president to be sworn in

Giorgio Napolitano, a former Communist who was elected president last week, was to be sworn in today, finally opening the way for centre-left leader Romano Prodi to form a new Italian government.

Napolitano will be sworn in during a joint session of parliament held at the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house. By Wednesday, he is expected to give the mandate to Prodi.

The centre-left leader, who has been working on his Cabinet list, rejected accusations from centre-right politicians that he would not be ready in time, following reports of bickering and endless negotiations within his fractious Union coalition over the makeup of the government.

“It’s never happened that a government was announced before it was time, before receiving the mandate. It doesn’t make any sense,” Prodi said yesterday.

“The president of the Republic will give me the mandate and I will deliver the list of vice-premiers and ministers.”

Members of the coalition are fighting over who should get key ministries, including defence and interior. Prodi scored a narrow victory over conservative Premier Silvio Berlusconi in parliamentary elections in April.