Italy's New Government Expected by Late JuneThe results of Sunday's general elections in Italy should produce a new government in full operation before the end of June, unless there are any unforeseeable complications.Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi will not initiate the process of forming a new government until after the current government headed by Giuliano Amato formally resigns, the new House and Senate are seated, on May 30, the speakers of both houses chosen and party caucuses formed in Parliament. Ciampi will then confer with the new Senate and House speakers and the former heads of state and open consultations with the political parties. Given this scenario, observers believe a new executive could be ready to go before parliament by mid-June, after the confidence debate and vote have taken place. In 1996, Romano Prodi set a record by forming his government and winning the confidence vote within five weeks of the elections. This will probably not be the case this year, but pressure will arise on forming a new government at least a few weeks before the G8 Summit in Genoa on July 20-22. |
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