Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi resigned on Tuesday, paving the way for centre-left leader Romano Prodi to form a new government.
Berlusconi formally ended his term as premier three weeks after Prodi squeaked to victory in hard-fought and bitter parliamentary elections.
Before he paid the obligatory call on the head of state, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, to formalise his move, his cabinet held its final meeting. "We completed our programme, we were the best government of the Republic. They'll be sorry we've gone," he reportedly told outgoing ministers. On his exit several Forza Italia party members applauded him but there were also hundreds of people heckling him and shouting "Good riddance".
Berlusconi has run Italy since winning elections in 2001 and his government lasted longer than any other in the nation's postwar history. It remains unclear exactly when Prodi will take the reins of power because of a tussle under way between the two blocs over who is to be Ciampi's successor as president.
Under the Italian constitution, governments and premiers are appointed by the president. Ciampi, who must be replaced by May 13, has said he wants his successor to give Prodi his mandate.
But analysts say Berlusconi's resignation, which was only announced at the weekend, could prompt a change of heart, meaning that Ciampi could appoint Prodi himself. After Berlusconi resigned on Tuesday, Prodi said his government would be born according to "a timetable decided by the president."
He said on Monday that he was ready to begin work immediately.
