Italy parliament fails to elect state president
19 April 2013 6:39 AM IST
Italy’s parliament failed to elect a new state president in its first vote on Thursday, with divisions in the centre-left alliance torpoedoing a quick victory for its official candidate Franco Marini.
Marini, a former Senate speaker, won just over 520 votes, well below the required two thirds majority or 672 of the 1007 members of both houses of parliament and regional representatives in the presidential poll.
A second ballot will be held later on Thursday and voting will continue through the weekend if necessary.
Marini’s failure, in a vote which is key to filling a government vacuum since the deadlocked general election in February, was a setback for Pier Luigi Bersani. The centre-left leader split his party by nominating Marini in a deal with centre-right boss Silvio Berlusconi.
Marini, a former Senate speaker, won just over 520 votes, well below the required two thirds majority or 672 of the 1007 members of both houses of parliament and regional representatives in the presidential poll.
A second ballot will be held later on Thursday and voting will continue through the weekend if necessary.
Marini’s failure, in a vote which is key to filling a government vacuum since the deadlocked general election in February, was a setback for Pier Luigi Bersani. The centre-left leader split his party by nominating Marini in a deal with centre-right boss Silvio Berlusconi.
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