Premier Matteo Renzi on Monday
called on his center-left Democratic Party (PD) to remain united
in the year ahead, when MPs and regional delegates will likely
be called on to elect a new president of the Republic.
The outcome of that election "depends in large part on us,
because we have 460 votes," Renzi told MPs and top party
officials during a Christmas toast at PD headquarters.
"We must not repeat the errors of 2013," Renzi said.
Incumbent President Giorgio Napolitano said last Thursday
that his resignation as head of State was imminent.
He is tipped to announce he is stepping down in his
traditional New Year's Eve address to the nation.
The 89-year-old former Communist reluctantly agreed to
become Italy's first head of State to be re-elected last year to
avert a crisis after squabbling parties were unable to agree on
a successor.
That crisis was sparked by rebellions within the PD, at the
time led by Pier Luigi Bersani, that scuppered the two
candidates the group presented.
In Italy, the president is elected by a joint session of
the houses of parliament plus regional delegates, totalling just
over 1,000 people. The president of the Republic is the head of
State and has the power to dissolve parliament. He or she
represents national unity, guarantees that Italian politics
comply with the Constitution, and is elected for a term of seven
years.
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