Premier-elect Romano Prodi on Friday tipped former European Central Bank board member Tommaso Padoa Schioppa as a leading candidate for the important post of economy minister in his new government.
Prodi, who will name his cabinet towards the end of next month, said the internationally prestigious Padoa Schioppa was a "serious" candidate. But he stressed that his cabinet would be a tight team and no name would emerge before the whole outfit had been assembled.
Most experts agree that Padoa Schioppa, who is not a party affilate, is an ideal man to boost confidence in Italy's ability to fix its finances.
"We'll forge a government to last, so thorough talks are needed" with the members of a coalition that ranges from Communists to Catholic centrists, Prodi said. The premier-elect, who will be formally tapped for the job by Italy's next president in mid-May, said it was a "shame" that Premier Silvio Berlusconi had not yet conceded defeat - "but institutional life will go on anyway".
He added that he expected a congratulation call from United States President George Bush "soon". The US State Department said Thursday it would "work with the new government".
A raft of international leaders have already congratulated Prodi on his narrow election win on April 10. The first job of the new parliament, which will convene on April 28, will be to elect new Speakers. Prodi said his coalition would agree on them by Monday, downplaying talk of coalition squabbles over the posts.
