Italian PM hands in resignation

[Ederico]

PRODI E COMPAGNI COMUNISTI A CASA! - Ederico.

BBC NEWS | Europe | Italian PM hands in resignation

Italian PM hands in resignation

Troop deployments have split Mr Prodi's coalition

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has handed his resignation to the country's president after losing a crucial foreign policy vote in the Senate. President Giorgio Napolitano is now expected to hold talks with political leaders before reaching a decision.

He could accept the resignation or ask Mr Prodi to stay in power.
In the vote, several of Mr Prodi's coalition partners opposed troop deployments in Afghanistan and plans to expand a US airbase in northern Italy.

The BBC's Jonny Dymond in Rome says it is not a foregone conclusion that the government will fall.

Mr Napolitano has several options, of which dissolving parliament and calling new elections is the most radical.

A spokesman for the prime minister said Mr Prodi needed the full support of the coalition if he was to continue.

"Prodi has acknowledged this is a serious crisis and he doesn't have a majority in the Senate," Silvio Sircana said.

"He is ready to carry on as prime minister if, and only if, he is guaranteed the full support of all the parties in the majority from now on."

The coalition's leader in the lower house of parliament, Dario Franceschini, said the main parties in the coalition would continue to back him.

"We are ready to renew our full confidence in Prodi," he said.
"Let's hope the consultations will be useful to clear things up."

Dramatic scenes

Mr Napolitano cut short a trip to Bologna to return to Rome for talks with Mr Prodi.

He could also ask Mr Prodi, who took office 10 months ago with a wafer-thin parliamentary majority, to test his support with a confidence vote, ask him to form a new government, choose a different prime minister from the ruling coalition or appoint a government of technocrats.

A statement from the president's office said he "reserved his decision" on Mr Prodi's move.

Consultations with party leaders would begin at 1000 local time (0900 GMT) on Thursday, and in the meantime Mr Prodi would continue in a caretaker role, it added.

Mr Prodi's foreign minister had earlier said the government could resign if it lost the parliamentary motion.

The announcement of the result of the vote was met by shouts of "resign! resign!" by right-wing senators. The sitting was suspended shortly afterwards.
Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema had urged senators to approve the motion - which is non-binding - saying unity was crucial for Italy to retain its place on the world stage.

The motion asked the Senate to approve the government's foreign policy, a policy which it said was inspired by a repudiation of war and respect for the role of the EU, UN and international alliances.

It received 158 votes in favour, just short of the majority of 160 needed for approval, while 136 members of the conservative opposition voted against the motion.

Some 24 senators decided to abstain from the vote.

[Strengthandhonour]

hahaha
aww povero bambino..
I was in the middle of class when a close friend sent me a text message letting me know the news. I think a lot of people totally saw this coming. I thought it would just take longer for him to resign. There was flaws with this party from the beggining, like the fact that you had pro gay rights people and moderate catholics.
I think people just picked Prodi during the elections because Berlusconi was already picked and people in Italy change prime ministers like they change underwear. I don't think the people were fully behind him. He won the elections only by a slight difference.

[Caesar Princeps]

[no words for my joy]

I know it is too soon to boast, but I can not help seeing this bunch of buffoon at the strings!

[Kernunnos]

As far as I understand he has strained Italy's relationship with USA and Vatican because of his continuous kowtowing to the will of his communist allies, who were protecting him against the social-democrats of D'Alema.

The coalition was heavily blackmailed by the commies, so alienating the industrial world beside the aforementioned international powers.

A technical government is likely to follow for some time, there is a new electoral law to be written before new elections.

[Marulus]

Well, Italian comrades, don't be too rushy in celebrating this event. This could be a prelude to formation of the "big coalition" on the German model...

Maybe these two Communists were used as "useful idiots" in bringing this about...

See what Maurizio Blondet has to say on this here and here. And Blondet is extremly anti-Prodian...

[Menydh]

Sorry for the off topic but I must wonder.. has Zapatero any friend left in Europe? I mean, apart from probably the Dutch, if that counts.

[Marulus]

Originally Posted by Mynydd

Sorry for the off topic but I must wonder.. has Zapatero any friend left in Europe? I mean, apart from probably the Dutch, if that counts.

Probably some leaders of eastern European banana republics are his friends as well, but that does not count either...some former Communists who are now sucking up to Jews, Americans, EU and NWO.

Like this ape-like creature, for example:



But that does not count surely...