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| Italian government forged from team of rivals | Italian government forged from team of rivals |
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| A coalition of Silvio Berlusconi's forces and center-left rivals forged a new Italian government on Saturday, an unusual alliance that broke a two-month deadlock following inconclusive elections in the recession-mired country. | A coalition of Silvio Berlusconi's forces and center-left rivals forged a new Italian government on Saturday, an unusual alliance that broke a two-month deadlock following inconclusive elections in the recession-mired country. |
| The daunting achievement was pulled off by Enrico Letta, the center-left PM-designate who will be sworn in as premier along with the new cabinet on Sunday at the presidential Quirinal Palace. | The daunting achievement was pulled off by Enrico Letta, the center-left PM-designate who will be sworn in as premier along with the new cabinet on Sunday at the presidential Quirinal Palace. |
| Letta, 46, is a moderate with a reputation as a political bridge-builder. He is also the nephew of former premier Berlusconi's longtime adviser, Gianni Letta, a relationship seen as smoothing over often nasty interaction between the two main coalition partners. | Letta, 46, is a moderate with a reputation as a political bridge-builder. He is also the nephew of former premier Berlusconi's longtime adviser, Gianni Letta, a relationship seen as smoothing over often nasty interaction between the two main coalition partners. |
| Serving as deputy premier and interior minister will be Berlusconi's top political aide, Angelino Alfano. He is a former justice minister who was the architect of legislation that critics say was tailor-made to help media mogul Berlusconi in his many judicial woes. | Serving as deputy premier and interior minister will be Berlusconi's top political aide, Angelino Alfano. He is a former justice minister who was the architect of legislation that critics say was tailor-made to help media mogul Berlusconi in his many judicial woes. |
| The creation of the coalition capped the latest political comeback for Berlusconi, who was forced to resign in 2011 as Italy slid deeper into the eurozone's sovereign debt crisis. | The creation of the coalition capped the latest political comeback for Berlusconi, who was forced to resign in 2011 as Italy slid deeper into the eurozone's sovereign debt crisis. |
| Berlusconi, a fervent anti-communist, views Italy's left as a personal nemesis, and Letta's Democratic Party has some of its roots in what was the west's largest communist party. | Berlusconi, a fervent anti-communist, views Italy's left as a personal nemesis, and Letta's Democratic Party has some of its roots in what was the west's largest communist party. |
| The new premier, Letta, expressed "sober satisfaction over the team we put together and its willingness" to form a coalition. | The new premier, Letta, expressed "sober satisfaction over the team we put together and its willingness" to form a coalition. |
| President Giorgio Napolitano, who tasked Letta with creating a government out of bitter rivals, called upon the coalition partners to work "in a spirit of absolute, indispensable cohesion" as they work for sorely needed political and economic reforms. | President Giorgio Napolitano, who tasked Letta with creating a government out of bitter rivals, called upon the coalition partners to work "in a spirit of absolute, indispensable cohesion" as they work for sorely needed political and economic reforms. |
| "I hope there is maximum cohesion," said Napolitano, sounding almost breathless as he expressed confidence the rivals could work together for the good of the country. | "I hope there is maximum cohesion," said Napolitano, sounding almost breathless as he expressed confidence the rivals could work together for the good of the country. |
| Napolitano continued: "It was and is the only possible government," adding there was no room for "delay, in our country's and Europe's interests." | Napolitano continued: "It was and is the only possible government," adding there was no room for "delay, in our country's and Europe's interests." |
| Napolitano, 87, reluctantly agreed to be re-elected by Parliament earlier this month for another seven-year term because of the political instability. | Napolitano, 87, reluctantly agreed to be re-elected by Parliament earlier this month for another seven-year term because of the political instability. |
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