Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on Tuesday congratulated Silvio Berlusconi for the center right's victory in Italy's two-day general election.
''I offer my congratulations to the coalition headed by Mr. Berlusconi for its clear victory. I would also like to express my appreciation to all political parties and their candidates who took part in a free and orderly electoral test''.
Napolitano also thanked outgoing Interior Minister Giuliano Amato for his handling of Sunday and Monday's vote.
No indication was given when the president will call Berlusconi to the presidential Quirinale Palace to ask him to form a new government.
Speaking ion state radio Tuesday morning, the two-time premier said he had a clear idea of who he intended to taker part in his 12-memebr cabinet and would meet with his coalition partners on Wednesday.
He also said that the speakerships of both House and Senate would go to his winning coalition and saw no reason for a bi-partisan commission to hammer out institutional reforms.
