http://www.corriere.it/english/articoli/2006/05_Maggio/10/article.shtml
Napolitano is Italy's New Head of State
Elected at fourth ballot. Clears 505-vote threshold to win total of 543.
Decisive poll after two days of negotiations between Union and House of
Freedoms.
ROME - Giorgio Napolitano is the new head of state and the eleventh in the
history of the Republic of Italy.He succeeds Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, who was
elected in 1999 and had come to the end of his seven-year mandate.The decisive
vote came in the fourth ballot after two days of deal-brokering attempts by the
majority Union and the opposition.A few minutes before 1 pm, a long bout of
applause from the presidential electors signalled the crucial moment when the
required number of the votes was reached.The fourth ballot was by absolute
majority after the first three, when a two-thirds majority was needed. The
threshold was set at 505 votes, which Mr Napolitano passed to finish with 543,
a figure in line with forecasts for the Union, plus three extra votes.
THANKS - «Thanks to all of you»were the first words spoken by the new head of
state at Palazzo Giustiniani, where the leader of the Lower House, Fausto
Bertinotti, read the official announcement to him.Mr Bertinotti was accompanied
by the leader of the Senate, Franco Marini.«I extend the respectful greeting of
the whole of Parliament», said Mr Bertinotti, «with its good wishes for your
labours on behalf of the country and its institutions».
APPRECIATION - Mr Napolitano's election was however a tempestuous one.Despite
contrasting opinions, especially from the Christian Democrat UDC, the House of
Freedoms decided in the end to cast blank votes again in the fourth ballot.
There were exceptions. Marco Follini, the former UDC secretary, revealed in an
interview with the Corriere della Sera that he would vote for Mr Napolitano and
the Northern League voted for its own leader, Umberto Bossi.This meant that the
hoped-for large majority did not materialise.But there were also many explicit
declarations of appreciation from the Centre-right for Mr Napolitano,
suggesting that the division of the two formations over his name was a matter
more of form than substance.As the long applause in the debating chamber
showed, it is widely believed in Parliament that his presidency is an
institutional guarantee.A small crowd waited outside the entrance to the Lower
House's Palazzo Montecitorio for the result of the ballot.At about 1.15 pm came
the announcement by Mr Bertinotti: «Our most heartfelt good wishes to the
President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano».
WAITING FOR THE VOTE - Mr Napolitano's day began early.Since the moment it was
officially revealed that the Union would vote for him, journalists have been in
constant attendance, asking him about his expectations, the current situation
and prospects.Mr Napolitano has made no attempt to evade their natural
curiosity about a «migliorista» [reformist - Trans.] who often found himself in
the minority in the Italian Communist Party (Pci) now becoming an institutional
emblem for the Left. Again today,the day of the decisive vote, the press was in
attendance from early morning, when he left his home in the centre of
Rome.Journalists asked him if it was the most important day of his life.«If you
are talking about my private life then no, there have been other days.But for
politics, obviously...» was his reply.He was then asked about his hopes and
whether «a good day can be seen from the dawn».«Let's hope so», he smiled.As a
life senator, Mr Napolitano was one of the first to place his ballot paper in
the box. He shook hands briefly with Giulio Andreotti and then headed for the
exit on the lefthand side of the Montecitorio debating chamber, the one
normally used by the Centre-left Union.Before leaving, he warmly embraced Olga
Di Serio D'Antona, the widow of the legal scholar murdered by the Red
Brigades.He then went to his studio in Palazzo Giustiniani, where he waited for
the ballot and vote count to be completed.
TAKING THE OATH AND TAKING OFFICE-Giorgio Napolitano may only be sworn in next
Monday.The date has been forecast by the Union, in view of the administrative
election campaign that is still under way and the need to enable political
leaders to return to their constituencies at the weekend.It is probable that
Romano Prodi's government could take office in the first half of next week,
presumably on Wednesday.
English translation by Giles Watson
www.watson.it
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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