ROME – Italian president Giorgio Napolitano made it clear yesterday that, despite deep divisions in the ruling coalition, he would try to avoid calling early elections because of the damage it would cause to the economy.
The head of state is the only person with the power to dissolve parliament, and his words set the scene for a potential conflict with prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who favours new polls if he cannot heal the differences in his coalition after the August parliamentary recess.
In a rare interview in the left-wing newspaper Unita, 85-year- old Napolitano said recent signs of economic recovery needed to be consolidated and strengthened with suitable government policies.
“Instead, if we head towards a political void and towards a fierce electoral contest, I ask what the consequences would be for the country,” he said.
Relations have often been strained between the conservative Mr Berlusconi and the former communist president, who appeared in the interview to take sides in a dispute between Mr Berlusconi and his long-time ally, Gianfranco Fini.
Mr Fini, co-founder of the ruling People of Freedom party, dramatically split with Mr Berlusconi last month to form his own group in parliament, depriving the government of its majority and raising the risk of an early election.
Mr Napolitano said that, if the government should fall, he would “take every step which the constitution dictates”, a clear sign he would not bow to pressure to dissolve parliament.
Under Italy’s constitution, if a government resigns the president must try to find an alternative majority to support a new administration before dissolving parliament and calling an election. The next vote is due in 2013. – (Reuters)