[Marcus Marulus]

Italy: Scores of immigrants to vote in April elections





Rome, 13 Feb.(AKI) - The head of the New Italian Immigrants Party, Mustapha Mansouri, has predicted the immigrant vote will be crucial in the upcoming national elections.

The party, composed mainly of immigrants living in Italy, says it now has more than 100,000 members.

"During the (parliamentary) elections on April 13, over 200,000 new Italians will vote, while in the administrative elections, other 400,000 foreign residents could vote," said Moroccan-born Mansouri.

According to the party's calculations, about 200,000 immigrants have acquired Italian citizenship in the past five years.

But he also stressed the electoral clout of foreigners residing in Italy.

"A big influence can be exerted by 400,000 Romanians and Poles resident in our country, who will be able to vote in administrative elections," said Mansouri.

Italian president Giorgio Napolitano dissolved the parliament on 6 February when prime minister Romano Prodi failed to sustain a workable majority in the Senate after 20 months in office.

Strenuous attempts to form an interim government failed and Napolitano set an election date for April.

[source]