Napolitano re-elected Italy president
22 April 2013 6:22 AM IST
Italian president Giorgio Napolitano has been elected for a second term. Napolitano, 87, who was due to step down on 15 May, agreed to stand again when parliament failed to elect a successor after five previous ballots. He surpassed the simple majority required to be elected.
Napolitano won the votes of 738 of the 1,007 so-called ‘grand electors’, the Ansa news agency reported. Official results will be announced later. Former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi thanked Napolitano for his ‘spirit of sacrifice’ and ‘personal generosity’ for agreeing to serve a second term as Italy’s head of state ‘in such a difficult, uncertain situation’, the report said. Napolitano will be sworn in Monday.
OBAMA CONGRATULATES GIORGIO NAPOLITANO
US president Barack Obama has congratulated his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano on his re-election and noted that the US-Italy alliance is deep and abiding. ‘For seven years, President Napolitano has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in Italy, in Europe, and around the world,’ Obama said in a statement.
‘I admire his decision to once again serve the Italian people as President, and welcome the decision that the Italian parliament has made to come together to select him for continued service,’ he added.
Napolitano’s steadfast commitment to the alliance between USA and Italy is deep and abiding the president said. ‘His continued stewardship of transatlantic relationship will ensure that we move forward together in facing the challenges of our times,’ Obama said.
Napolitano won the votes of 738 of the 1,007 so-called ‘grand electors’, the Ansa news agency reported. Official results will be announced later. Former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi thanked Napolitano for his ‘spirit of sacrifice’ and ‘personal generosity’ for agreeing to serve a second term as Italy’s head of state ‘in such a difficult, uncertain situation’, the report said. Napolitano will be sworn in Monday.
OBAMA CONGRATULATES GIORGIO NAPOLITANO
US president Barack Obama has congratulated his Italian counterpart Giorgio Napolitano on his re-election and noted that the US-Italy alliance is deep and abiding. ‘For seven years, President Napolitano has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in Italy, in Europe, and around the world,’ Obama said in a statement.
‘I admire his decision to once again serve the Italian people as President, and welcome the decision that the Italian parliament has made to come together to select him for continued service,’ he added.
Napolitano’s steadfast commitment to the alliance between USA and Italy is deep and abiding the president said. ‘His continued stewardship of transatlantic relationship will ensure that we move forward together in facing the challenges of our times,’ Obama said.
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