Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said on Wednesday that he and President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi were close to agreement over when to dissolve parliament.
The premier said MPs would get an extra two weeks to pass last-minute legislation after January 29, the previously agreed date for the close of activity in the two houses. He said the deal - which would close parliament on February 11 - was "not definitive but we're moving in that direction."
The election date will remain April 9, Berlusconi told Sky News Italia. He had earlier threatened to take the legislature to its natural end in May unless he got his way about keeping parliament open.
Dissolving parliament is the president's prerogative while chosing the election date falls to the government. Berlusconi, who asked Ciampi for the parliamentary extension last weekend, has denied press reports of a clash over dates between himself and the head of state.
Romano Prodi, leader of the centre-left opposition, appeared sure that the premier and president had locked horns over dates and congratulated the president for holding firm on the election date.
"Ciampi's wisdom and tenacity have assured the April 9 date. This is the important thing," he said.
"This all reminds me of when my students wanted an extra day to prepare for an exam. The request usually came from those that failed," he added.
The centre-left opposition has attacked the premier over his bid to win more time for parliament, calling it "irresponsible" and arguing that his real motive is a desire to spend more time on television. Once parliament breaks up, the election campaign can
begin and rules restricting airtime for politicians come into effect.
One of the bills that the premier would like to see approved before the end of the legislature would change the system of appeals in the nation's courts. This bill has already been approved by the two houses but Ciampi on Friday refused to sign it into law, sending it back to parliament. The president asked MPs to review certain sections which he said went against the constitution.
Critics of the premier claim the bill, which makes it harder to appeal against acquittals, is intended to save Berlusconi from an appeal in a judge-bribing case. Another law the premier wants to get through parliament is a crackdown on drugs, sponsored by the rightwing National Alliance party.
In a flurry of last-minute activity, two other laws have already been passed - both backed by the populist and regionalist Northern League
One, approved Wednesday morning, wipes out or depenalises Fascist-era 'crimes of opinion' like insulting the homeland and the Italian flag. Several League activists have been convicted on these charges.
The other, approved Tuesday night, lets Italians shoot burglars and robbers in self-defence. Previously, they faced charges if they wounded or killed assailants.
