Plan could put Prodi back in office

Two days after stepping down as prime minister, Romano Prodi appeared closer to returning to office this afternoon, as Italy’s president met with key politicians to discuss forming a new government.

Mr Prodi stepped down on Wednesday after an embarrassing parliamentary defeat over foreign policy, including the government’s plan to keep troops in Afghanistan. He agreed to stay on in a caretaker role until the political crisis is solved.

However, after huddling all night with coalition leaders, Mr Prodi emerged from the talks early this morning, announcing that he had secured their backing on a detailed platform that could ensure a stronger government – and pave the way to his return to office.

It is now up to president Giorgio Napolitano to decide what to do next.

The president has been holding talks to determine which political leader, if any, has enough backing in parliament to form a viable government.

Mr Prodi narrowly defeated incumbent premier Silvio Berlusconi in elections last April, bringing an end to five years of conservative rule.

However, the win gave Prodi only a paper-thin majority in the Senate, where his bid to get Communists and Greens to back his foreign policy failed on Wednesday.

The first item on his new 12-point plan calls for respecting Italy’s international commitments in Afghanistan and elsewhere. It also calls for the construction of a high-speed rail line linking Turin with Lyon, France – another project that has been opposed by radical leftists.

The plan also gives the premier the final word on any disagreement in the squabbling coalition.

In an apparent effort to broaden the coalition by drawing in Catholic and moderate politicians, the plan made no mention of a government proposal to grant legal rights to unmarried couples, including gay partners. The proposal has angered the Vatican and drawn the opposition of Catholic politicians.

After the meeting, coalition leaders indicated that Mr Prodi had lined up enough support, and gave assurances that party politicians would give him the vote of confidence in parliament that he would need to return to office.

However, rebellious senators in the past have voted against their parties – as they did on Wednesday in the vote that led to the government’s resignation.

Today, Napolitano met first with members of the conservative opposition and was scheduled to hold talks later in the day with centre-left leaders.

Mr Prodi, who is not the head of any party, was not scheduled to attend the talks.

Mr Napolitano could ask Prodi or another leader from his coalition to form a new government. He might also tap an institutional figure above the political fray to form a Cabinet – possibly with broad support from both coalitions – or could call early elections.