Prodi cleared to form government

[cal04]

Italy's Romano Prodi has finally been asked to form a new government, more than a month after narrowly winning a national election. President Giorgio Napolitano gave Mr Prodi the mandate after consulting former presidents and party chiefs, including outgoing centre-right prime minister Silvio Berlusconi who insisted he wanted more checks on the results of the election.

Mr Prodi accepted and went straight back into talks with his coalition allies, who range from Roman Catholic moderates to communists, over the make-up of the Government. The Government is expected to be sworn in on
Wednesday. "I think it's going to be quite a long night," Mr Prodi said. Mr Prodi says he expects to have the final Cabinet list by Wednesday morning.

Ministries including interior, defence and justice are still up for grabs. Days of bickering over cabinet jobs have underscored the problems Mr Prodi is likely to face with a wafer-thin majority in Parliament and Mr Berlusconi's pledge to lead a "an opposition without pity". His Government needs to get down to work quickly to try to revive a stagnant economy, with rating agencies threatening to downgrade Italy's debt if badly needed but unpopular reforms are not enacted soon.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1640194.htm

[Endangered Specie]

1. moderate catholics to communists??!...

that must be an 'interesting' coalition

[David__77]

2. Berlusconi to jail!

They must ruthlessly prosecute Berlusconi, and seize his ill-gotten assets in the name of the people.

[Emendator]

4. That would be a big mistake

This coalition is extremely weak to begin with. Going after Berlusconi like that would come across as vindictive and would backfire. If Prodi wants his government to survive for more than 2 months, he'd better just focus on governing.

[gratuitous]

3. Has Bush made his congratulatory phone call yet?

Standard stuff when an ally elects a new leader is for our leader to call and congratulate that person. Bush, however, is not your standard issue leader.