Bersani rules out notion of grand coalition
Also excludes Italy will have to go back to polls
21 February, 14:31
(ANSA) - Rome, February 21 - Centre-left leader Pier Luigi
Bersani on Thursday ruled out participation in a large coalition
government, saying it would not provide adequate change, and
rejected predictions that Italians will have to go back to the
polls because there will be no clear outcome next Monday."I exclude a grand coalition because it is not good for Italy," the leader of the Democratic Party (PD) said on Radio Two. "We need a change of government," not immobility, he added.
The idea of voting again was just "a theory", he said.
Pundits have suggested that the national vote, to be held Sunday and Monday, will be so fragmented that no one party can win and therefore a new coalition may be necessary. In opinion polls conducted before the pre-election blackout was imposed, the PD was leading.
However, since then ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi has said that his centre-right forces have pulled ahead.
Berlusconi has also accused Bersani and outgoing Premier Mario Monti of having plans to form a coalition.
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