Italy's Political Paralysis
January 30, 2008
With calls by former prime minister and current opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi for early elections and lingering fears of a prolonged power vacuum dragging down Italy's economic performance, Marini faces tough challenges in carrying out President Napolitano's wishes.
"I will concentrate my efforts on trying to do this as quickly as possible," the 74-year-old said on Wednesday, Jan 30, after meeting with the president.
After consulting leaders across the political spectrum, Napolitano decided in favor of an interim government this week. He has said that he wants the interim administration to change the electoral system, widely blamed for fueling Italy's political instability, before any new parliamentary elections.
Berlusconi eager for snap polls
Napolitano's stance flies in the face of Berlusconi's argument that early elections are the only way out of the political deadlock.
The leader of the Forza Italia party, as well as other conservative politicians, did not want the president to back a transitional government.
Berlusconi served as prime minister for five years -- a record in postwar Italy -- and is eager to avenge his 2006 defeat to Prodi. He is likely to return to power if there is an early vote, according to recent polls showing the conservatives holding as much as a 10 percent lead over their rivals.
"We believe there is no other way than returning to the polls and giving the country a government as soon as possible, a government that is immediately operational," Berlusconi said.
Italy's latest political crisis erupted after Prime Minister Romano Prodi was forced to resign following the withdrawal of support by a centrist party in his center-left coalition. Prodi thereupon lost a confidence vote in the Senate.
Italy hamstrung by political crisis
The political crisis -- it was the collapse of the 61st Italian government since World War II -- has left the euro zone's third largest economy floundering at a time when the global economy is slowing. Italian business and consumer confidence is at its lowest for at least two years.
Italian industry leader, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo told Reuters, Italy desperately needed "governability and economic growth ... both require united efforts towards a shared solution."
It's hoped that Marini's neutral role as president of Italy's upper house of parliament may allow him to win cross-party support for reform of the current proportional representation system of voting.
Changes to the voting system were implemented by Berlusconi during his time as prime minister and allow smaller parties with only a handful of seats to hold the balance of power in parliament. The system is largely blamed for last week's political turmoil.