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Italy crisis: President Napolitano agrees to stand again Italy crisis: President Giorgio Napolitano re-elected
(about 2 hours 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 been re-elected following a cross-party appeal to run for office again to resolve a growing political crisis.
"I consider it necessary to offer my availability," said Mr Napolitano, 87, who was due to step down on 15 May. Mr Napolitano, aged 87, secured the required 504 votes in parliament.
The parliament earlier failed in its fifth attempt to elect a new president. The next vote is currently under way. Politicians had turned to the widely-respected president after five rounds of voting failed to produce a successor.
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' 'Coup d'etat'
"I cannot shun my responsibility towards the nation," President Napolitano said on Saturday. On Saturday, Mr Napolitano became the first president in Italian history to secure a second seven-year term.
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 easily won the simple majority of votes out of 1,007 electors.
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. Mr Napolitano put forward his candidacy after the appeal by main party leaders - both on the left and right.
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. "I consider it necessary to offer my availability," said Mr Napolitano, who had been due to step down on 15 May.
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. "I cannot shun my responsibility towards the nation," he added.
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. Italian party leaders earlier expressed concern over a "grave situation", urging parliament to "show unity" in re-electing widely-respected Mr Napolitano.
Outside the parliament building in Rome, protesters held a rally against the push for Mr Napolitano's re-election.
Many demonstrators were supporters of Beppe Grillo, the leader of the 5-Star Movement.
Mr Grillo denounced Mr Napolitano's re-appointment as a "coup d'etat".
Parliament began trying to elect a new president on Thursday, but MPs voted five times without producing a clear winner. In increasing desperation they turned to the man who was supposed to retire, the BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome reports.
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.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.