Prime Minister Romano Prodi resigned on Wednesday, just nine months after winning the closest election in Italy’s modern history, when his centre-left coalition suffered a Senate defeat on foreign policy. He was hoping the allies would close ranks in the vote on foreign policy, including Italy’s military mission in Afghanistan, but his bid backfired. Italy has 1,800 troops in Afghanistan, which were sent in by Berlusconi. The current government has agreed to keep the troops there, sparking opposition from its own Communist allies.
What is the Future?
The future of the government is now unclear after some coalition partners objected to the planned deployment of 2,000 extra troops in Afghanistan and the enlargement of a US military base in Vicenza in northern Italy. The Afghanistan deployment and the enlargement of the US base are both strongly opposed by the Greens and Communists who make up part of a coalition that also includes liberal and Catholic parties.
Possibilities
• President will decide on new elections Thursday.
Under the constitution, President Giorgio Napolitano must find a way out of the impasse and hold consultations with party and parliamentary leaders as well as former presidents.
If Napolitano finds enough support for Prodi among center-left parties, he could ask him to either form a new government or go to parliament with his present cabinet for a confidence vote. If he won that, he could remain in office.
• He could skip a vote and appoint new prime minister.
If support for Prodi is not strong enough for him to carry on as prime minister, Napolitano could ask someone else, possibly Interior Minister Giuliano Amato, to form a caretaker government of experts with cross-party backing.
• Berlusconi, who has had heart problems since his election loss, would jump into the race should there be early elections.
What if nothing works?
If no agreement is found on who should be prime minister, Napolitano would be forced to dissolve parliament and call early elections, even though this option appears unlikely for now. Even if there is another Prodi government it would be hanging by a thread and would not last long, as the reasons for tension abound. Prodi government would be extremely weak and vulnerable to infighting among its allies, who disagree on everything from Italy’s military missions abroad to gay rights.
Via: Reuters
