Tag: italian elections

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano yesterday (24 April) asked centre-left politician Enrico Letta to form a new government, signalling the end of a damaging two-month stalemate since elections in the eurozone's third largest economy in February.

President Giorgio Napolitano is considering appointing a new technocrat government led by a non-politician as one way out of Italy's political stalemate, Italian officials said yesterday (5 March).

Beppe Grillo, leader of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, ruled out a coalition yesterday (27 February) with the Italian centre-left, led by Pier Luigi Bersani. The move comes days after Bersani rejected Silvio Berlusconi’s plea to form a grand coalition, leaving Italy with a political impasse.

The Italian election results point towards further instability and coalition gridlock as Pier Luigi Bersani and Silvio Berlusconi failed to clinch a majority in either legislative chamber. The 5-Star Movement, led by Beppe Grillo, emerged as the strongest party.

Left-wing Italian lawmakers in the European Parliament are divided over the legacy of outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti ahead of a key election on 24-25 February that is marked by rising euroscepticism.

As EU leaders prepare for long negotiations on the EU budget this week, Italian Ambassador Nelli Feroci says Italy is working towards a "balanced and equitable" deal, where funds earmarked for agriculture and regional cohesion - traditionally the big components of the budget - are geared to maximise growth and jobs, and achieve a sustainable European economic recovery.

Pier Luigi Bersani, head of Italy's Democratic Party, will face his main rival Matteo Renzi in a runoff next week to pick the centre-left's candidate to succeed Mario Monti as prime minister, following the first round of a primary vote held yesterday (25 November).