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| Italian President Appoints Center-Left Official as Premier | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| ROME – President Giorgio Napolitano has appointed Enrico Letta, the deputy head of the Democratic Party, as prime minister designate tasked with forming a government to lead the country out of weeks of political impasse following inconclusive national elections. | |
| Mr. Letta, 46, is considered a moderate figure capable of reuniting the embattled, center-left Democratic Party with caretaker Prime Minister Mario Monti’s Civic Choice group and the center-right. Mr. Letta is the nephew of former Prime Minster Silvio Berlusconi’s close aide, Gianni Letta. | Mr. Letta, 46, is considered a moderate figure capable of reuniting the embattled, center-left Democratic Party with caretaker Prime Minister Mario Monti’s Civic Choice group and the center-right. Mr. Letta is the nephew of former Prime Minster Silvio Berlusconi’s close aide, Gianni Letta. |
| He has held government posts related to European and economic affairs. He has also been a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. | He has held government posts related to European and economic affairs. He has also been a member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. |
| Former Prime Minister Giuliano Amato had also been tipped by Italian media as a front-runner. If Mr. Letta is named as prime minister designate, he will be expected to choose ministers for his cabinet, and then must win confidence votes in both houses of Parliament. | Former Prime Minister Giuliano Amato had also been tipped by Italian media as a front-runner. If Mr. Letta is named as prime minister designate, he will be expected to choose ministers for his cabinet, and then must win confidence votes in both houses of Parliament. |
| Mr. Napolitano was re-elected as president for an unprecedented second term over the weekend after lawmakers failed to choose an alternative candidate. His precondition for renewing his mandate was that the political parties overcome their differences to form a government almost 60 days after the national vote. | Mr. Napolitano was re-elected as president for an unprecedented second term over the weekend after lawmakers failed to choose an alternative candidate. His precondition for renewing his mandate was that the political parties overcome their differences to form a government almost 60 days after the national vote. |
| Failure to do so would result in the dissolution of Parliament, new elections and his own resignation, Mr. Napolitano warned lawmakers at his inaugural address. | Failure to do so would result in the dissolution of Parliament, new elections and his own resignation, Mr. Napolitano warned lawmakers at his inaugural address. |
| Elections at the end of February split Parliament into three mutually hostile political groups and efforts by the Democratic Party, which narrowly won the vote, to form a government were inconclusive. | Elections at the end of February split Parliament into three mutually hostile political groups and efforts by the Democratic Party, which narrowly won the vote, to form a government were inconclusive. |
| Many Democratic Party lawmakers refused to make a deal with the party headed by Silvio Berlusconi, the controversial political leader who has dominated Italian politics for two decades, plagued by personal scandals and criticism that his governments’ economic policies did not spare Italy the brunt of the euro-zone crisis. | Many Democratic Party lawmakers refused to make a deal with the party headed by Silvio Berlusconi, the controversial political leader who has dominated Italian politics for two decades, plagued by personal scandals and criticism that his governments’ economic policies did not spare Italy the brunt of the euro-zone crisis. |
| The anti-establishment Five Star Movement, which won 25 percent of the national vote riding on the wave of widespread frustration and anger toward the political class, has refused to make any alliances. | The anti-establishment Five Star Movement, which won 25 percent of the national vote riding on the wave of widespread frustration and anger toward the political class, has refused to make any alliances. |
| Mr. Napolitano was elected for a second term on Saturday at the age of 87. He reluctantly accepted, chastising lawmakers for leading the country into political paralysis, and telling them to quickly find a compromise, or face the consequences “before the country.” | Mr. Napolitano was elected for a second term on Saturday at the age of 87. He reluctantly accepted, chastising lawmakers for leading the country into political paralysis, and telling them to quickly find a compromise, or face the consequences “before the country.” |
| In a highly emotional speech, he also blasted politicians for failing to approve urgent institutional and economic reforms, even as Italy’s economy continues to contract. The country is in the grip of the worst economic recession since the end of World War II. | In a highly emotional speech, he also blasted politicians for failing to approve urgent institutional and economic reforms, even as Italy’s economy continues to contract. The country is in the grip of the worst economic recession since the end of World War II. |
| The current crisis, Mr. Napolitano said, was the result “of a long series of omissions and flaws, closures and irresponsibility.” | The current crisis, Mr. Napolitano said, was the result “of a long series of omissions and flaws, closures and irresponsibility.” |
| Though Italians have demanded deep-rooted changes of their political leaders and a renewal of the existing political system, such demands have fallen on deaf ears, he said. Responses have been slow in coming, and distorted by political tactics and calculations. Politicians have ignored demands for greater transparency, moral rectitude and a significant reduction in the cost of politics, he added. | Though Italians have demanded deep-rooted changes of their political leaders and a renewal of the existing political system, such demands have fallen on deaf ears, he said. Responses have been slow in coming, and distorted by political tactics and calculations. Politicians have ignored demands for greater transparency, moral rectitude and a significant reduction in the cost of politics, he added. |
| Italian news media said Wednesday that some ministers in Mr. Monti’s caretaker government could retain their posts. | Italian news media said Wednesday that some ministers in Mr. Monti’s caretaker government could retain their posts. |
Gaia Pianigiani contributed reporting. | Gaia Pianigiani contributed reporting. |