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Italy crisis: President Napolitano agrees to stand again | Italy crisis: President Napolitano agrees to stand again |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has agreed to run for office again to resolve a growing political crisis, after an appeal by the main parties. | Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has agreed to run for office again to resolve a growing political crisis, after an appeal by the main parties. |
"I consider it necessary to offer my availability," said Mr Napolitano, 87, who was due to step down on 15 May. | "I consider it necessary to offer my availability," said Mr Napolitano, 87, who was due to step down on 15 May. |
The parliament earlier failed in its fifth attempt to elect a new president. The next vote is currently under way. | |
A caretaker government has been governing Italy following February's inconclusive general elections. | A caretaker government has been governing Italy following February's inconclusive general elections. |
The political deadlock has compounded concern about the stability of Italy whose economy, the third-biggest in the eurozone, is mired in recession. | The political deadlock has compounded concern about the stability of Italy whose economy, the third-biggest in the eurozone, is mired in recession. |
'Grave situation' | 'Grave situation' |
"I cannot shun my responsibility towards the nation," President Napolitano said on Saturday. | "I cannot shun my responsibility towards the nation," President Napolitano said on Saturday. |
He said he was responding to the cross-party appeal to stay on for another seven years to try to help resolve the crisis. | He said he was responding to the cross-party appeal to stay on for another seven years to try to help resolve the crisis. |
Party leaders - both on the left and right - expressed concern over a "grave situation", urging parliament to "show unity" in re-electing widely-respected Mr Napolitano. | |
He needs to secure 504 votes out of 1,007 electors to be confirmed for a second term. A vote was being held in parliament on Saturday afternoon. | |
If Mr Napolitano is re-elected he will be the first president in Italian history to serve two terms, the BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome reports. | |
Parliament began trying to elect a new president on Thursday, but MPs have since voted five times without producing a clear winner. In increasing desperation they turned to the man who was supposed to retire, our correspondent says. | |
On Friday, the leader of Italy's centre-left alliance, Pier Luigi Bersani, promised to step down as soon as a new president was elected. | |
Mr Bersani announced the news to his Democratic Party (PD) after many centre-left MPs refused to back his preferred candidate for president. | Mr Bersani announced the news to his Democratic Party (PD) after many centre-left MPs refused to back his preferred candidate for president. |
The centre-left failed to gain an overall majority at February's general election despite coming first. | The centre-left failed to gain an overall majority at February's general election despite coming first. |