Outgoing Premier Silvio Berlusconi and Premier-elect Romano Prodi met on Thursday in a bid to find an agreement over a bipartisan candidate to replace popular President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, whose terms ends this month.
The election of a new president is closely tied up with the birth of a new centre-left government led by Romano Prodi. Ciampi has said he wants his successor to appoint the new government. The 85-year-old president on Wednesday turned down pressing offers from both political blocs to stand for an unprecedented second seven-year-term, saying that renewing a mandate would "be ill suited to the Republican characteristics" of the state.
Ciampi's refusal posed an immediate problem for Prodi, who won a wafer-thin victory in last month's general elections, because he will only be appointed by Ciampi's successor. Moreover, the country's top institutional post is traditionally filled by a candidate with a broad consensus who can cement national unity and mediate between the two blocs.
"It was a first long, cordial meeting," said Prodi after talks with Berlusconi at the premier's office. He said they planned to meet again but would not provide details. Berlusconi did not call Prodi to concede defeat in the April 9/10 elections but shook hands with him on Monday when the two met at funeral ceremonies for three Italian servicemen slain in Iraq.
His centre-right coalition has made clear they strongly object to the possibility that Prodi's majority will elect someone without their approval, especially as both new speakers have come from the Prodi camp. "They mustn't think about getting their hands on the presidency as well. This must be a guarantee for unity in Italy," Berlusconi said after Ciampi's announcement on Wednesday.
The meeting, arranged promptly at Prodi's request, was hailed by politicians of all stripes as a huge step forward in moves to find an acceptable solution. Italian presidents are elected by members of the Senate and the Lower House, plus a number of regional representatives. Until the third vote, a two-thirds majority is required and a simple majority after that. So theoretically, the centre left could elect its own candidate from the fourth vote on but this would heighten the already acrimonious relations between the two blocs.
The two names mentioned most frequently as possible candidates are Massimo D'Alema, a former premier and the chairman of the Democratic Left party; and Giuliano Amato, also a former premier who comes from a Socialist background. But Berlusconi has ruled out D'Alema and has proposed Cabinet Undersecretary Gianni Letta.
Letta is a close aide but is viewed in a favourable light in the centre left because of his consummate diplomatic abilities.
Senate Speaker Franco Marini, a former centrist trade union leader who also has supporters in the centre right, said he was not willing to stand for the post. Ciampi's term ends on May 18, while voting for his successor is scheduled to begin on May 8.
