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Italian politicians vote for new president Italian MPs fail to choose new president in first vote
(about 3 hours later)
Italian politicians have gathered in the lower house of parliament in Rome to begin choosing a new president. Italian politicians have failed to choose a new president in an initial round of voting.
The vote comes seven weeks after Italy's general election ended in deadlock, with the major parties yet to agree a coalition. The election in Rome comes seven weeks after Italy's general election ended in deadlock.
President Giorgio Napolitano is stepping down at the end of his seven-year term. President Giorgio Napolitano is stepping down at the end of his seven-year term, having failed to form a new government.
His successor will have to persuade the parties to form a government or send them back to the polls. The most popular candidate on Thursday fell well short of the two-thirds majority needed to take over his job.
President Napolitano was responsible for appointing Prime Minister Mario Monti to head a technocrats' interim government when Silvio Berlusconi's administration collapsed in November 2011. Former trade unionist and ex-speaker of the Senate, Franco Marini, received 521 votes from parliamentarians and regional representatives. But he fell well short of the 672 votes needed for an early result.
But with no clear winner having emerged from February's general election and bitter arguments about forming a coalition continuing, Italy is still in political limbo. Sefano Rodota, the candidate backed by former comic Beppe Grillo's 5-Star Movement, came in second place with 240 votes.
The new president will play a vital role in the effort to put together a viable government in Italy, which has been in political limbo since an inconclusive general election in February.
An interim government of technocrats remains in power, while politicians of many parties fail to agree on a ruling coalition.
The president will either have to bring new accord or tell all the parties to go back to the polls.
A second vote to find that president takes place later on Thursday, followed by two ballots a day until a clear winner emerges.
'Disservice''Disservice'
Centre-left leader, Pier Luigi Bersani has backed former Senate speaker, Franco Marini, as candidate for president. Centre-left leader, Pier Luigi Bersani, has backed the front-runner, Franco Marini, as candidate for president.
But his main leadership rival in the party - Matteo Renzi, the mayor of Florence - has said Mr Marini's presidency would be a "disservice" to Italy.But his main leadership rival in the party - Matteo Renzi, the mayor of Florence - has said Mr Marini's presidency would be a "disservice" to Italy.
The anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, led by former comic, Beppe Grillo, has backed Stefano Rodota, a left-wing academic. Some in the centre-left are expected to be prepared to support him. Other candidates proved much less popular in the first vote.
Among other potential presidents are two former prime ministers, Giuliano Amato and Massimo D'Alema. Former prime ministers Romano Prodi and Massimo D'Alema received 14 and 12 votes respectively.
Any candidate will need a two-thirds majority among parliamentarians and regional representatives in the first three rounds. After that, a simple majority will be enough. Emma Bonino, former Commissioner in Brussels and fervent pro-European, had been talked about as the strongest contender to be Italy's first female president. She received just 13 votes in today's first round.
Correspondents say the new president's priority will be to try to instil a level of political unity Italy has not seen for a long time.