Italian President hints at retiring in January

The Italian president Giorgio Napolitano hinted during a ceremony at the presidential palace on 16 December 2014 that he might retire in January 2015. The confirmation of his resignation appeared on 14 January 2015.

Mr Napolitano, aged 89, had stated he was committed to his role until the end of Italy's presidency of the European Union. He had reluctantly accepted to run for a second term in 2013 following cross-party pressure, despite his advanced age. However, he had signalled from the start that he did not plan to serve a full seven-year term.

The election of a new president could prove a difficult process for the government of Matteo Renzi. The Italian parliament would be convened to elect the new President within two weeks from Napolitano’s resignation.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: President Napolitano attempts to keep Italy away from new election http://www.europeansources.info/record/president-napolitano-attempts-to-keep-italy-away-from-new-election/

ESO: Background Information: Italy crisis: President Giorgio Napolitano re-elected http://www.europeansources.info/record/italy-crisis-president-giorgio-napolitano-re-elected/

The Guardian, 14.01.15: Italian president Giorgio Napolitano steps down http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/14/italian-president-giorgio-napolitano-steps-down

BBC News, 14.01.15: Italian President Napolitano announces retirement http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-30810461

Deutsche Welle, 14.01.15: Italian President Giorgio Napolitano steps down http://dw.de/p/1EJpy

Euronews, 13.01.15: Napolitano’s six-decade winning streak http://www.euronews.com/2015/01/13/napolitano-s-six-decade-winning-streak/

El País, 14.01.15: Antonio Elorza honours Napolitano as Eurocommunist (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE156562-Antonio-Elorza-honours-Napolitano-as-Eurocommunist

The Local.it, 14.01.15: Italian President Napolitano resigns http://www.thelocal.it/20150114/italian-president-napolitano-resigns-in-rome

EurActiv, 14.01.15: Italian President Napolitano resigns http://www.euractiv.com/sections/elections/italian-president-napolitano-resigns-311260

Blog: Open Europe, 13.01.15: Electing the new Italian President: No Greek drama, but a test for Renzi http://openeurope.org.uk/blog/electing-new-italian-president-no-greek-drama-test-renzi/

The Conversation, 14.01.15: Italy’s ageing president resigns as country grasps at stability http://theconversation.com/italys-ageing-president-resigns-as-country-grasps-at-stability-36230

European Commission: Statement/15/3323,14.01.15: Statement by President Jean-Claude Juncker on the announcement of the resignation of Giorgio Napolitano http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-15-3323_en.htm

---