Italy crisis: President Giorgio Napolitano re-elected

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano was re-elected on the 20 April 2013 following a cross-party appeal to run for office again for an unprecented second term to resolve a growing political crisis in Italy.

Politicians had turned to the widely-respected president after five rounds of voting failed to produce a successor.

The development occurred in the context that a caretaker government had been governing Italy following the February 2013 inconclusive general election.

President Giorgio Napolitano was then expected to work urgently towards trying to create a new Italian government. Some form of coalition government was expected.

The leader of Italy’s main business lobby, Giorgio Squinzi, head of Confindustria, urged squabbling politicians to form a coalition government or risk condemning the country to prolonged economic recession.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Italian presidential election, 2013 http://www.europeansources.info/record/italian-presidential-election-2013/

ESO: Background information: Italian general election, 2013 http://www.europeansources.info/record/italian-general-election-2013/

Reuters, 20.04.13: Napolitano elected for second term as Italy president http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/04/20/uk-italy-vote-idUKBRE93I07Y20130420

Corriere della Sera, 19.04.13: ‘No to Marini, candidate Prodi ahead’ (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/news-brief/3695891-no-marini-candidate-prodi-ahead

EurActiv, 22.04.13: Napolitano re-election paves way for new Italian government http://www.euractiv.com/elections/napolitano-election-italy-presid-news-519252

Deutsche Welle, 22.04.13: Time for an Italian grand coalition? http://www.dw.de/time-for-an-italian-grand-coalition/a-16760150

France24, 21.04.13: Napolitano re-elected president to tackle Italy impasse http://www.france24.com/en/20130421-napolitano-elected-president-tackle-italy-impasse

Corriere della Sera, 20.04.13: Napolitano Remains President of Italy http://www.corriere.it/english/13_aprile_20/napolitano-remains-president-of-italy_d4482aa0-a9e4-11e2-8070-0e94b2f2d724.shtml

Il Sole 24 Ore, 20.04.13: Now, Immediately, an Agreed-Upon President http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/english-version/2013-04-20/immediately-agreedupon-president-062146.shtml?uuid=AbsoGuoH

EUObserver, 22.04.13: Italian parliament re-elects president http://euobserver.com/political/119876

Blog: The Economist: Charlemagne, 21.04.13: Italian politics: The old guard is back in charge http://www.economist.com/blogs/charlemagne/2013/04/italian-politics-1

EurActiv, 21.04.13: Deeply divided Italian MPs fail to elect a president http://www.euractiv.com/elections/deeply-divided-italian-mps-fail-news-519233

La Repubblica, 22.04.13: Twilight of the parties (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/3707091-twilight-parties

Spiegel Online International, 22.04.13: World from Berlin: 'Once Again, the Victor Is Berlusconi' http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/german-media-warn-giorgio-napolitano-cannot-solve-italian-politics-a-895714.html

Corriere della Sera, 22.04.13: Napolitano to Grant Mandate for Government on Wednesday http://www.corriere.it/english/13_aprile_22/napolitano_74c6e92e-ab4a-11e2-8dd6-b5ff5800dec2.shtml

Blog: LSE EUROPP, 22.04.13: The re-election of Giorgio Napolitano as Italian President merely represents the ‘calm before the storm’ in Italy’s political system. http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2013/04/22/giorgio-napolitano-italian-president-james-walston-bersani-berlusconi-grillo/

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