Italian lawmakers failed on Thursday to elect the nation’s president during an initial round of voting, the latest worrisome symptom of the political discord that has thwarted the formation of a government for two months.
President Giorgio Napolitano’s term ends next month, and choosing his successor is viewed as a critical step toward resolving the political impasse that resulted from inconclusive national elections for Parliament in February.
While the presidency is mostly ceremonial, the post has the power to dissolve Parliament and call a new national election. The president will also be the one to find someone with enough support in the legislature to try to form a government.
Italian heads of state, often widely respected and picked to be above the political fray, also work to build national unity, which is now vital as politicians squabble over how to rebuild Italy’s recession-mired economy.
Read more: Lawmakers fail to elect Italian president in 1st ballot in sign of continued political discord - The Washington Post
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