Renzi says new president should have widest support

(ANSA) - Rome, December 19 - Premier Matteo Renzi said Friday that he wants the next Italian president to be a figure who garners the widest possible support from all sides of the political spectrum. "I hope the president is elected with the broadest possible consensus," Renzi told the Radio 105 station.
    President Giorgio Napolitano said Thursday that his resignation as head of State was imminent.
    He is tipped to announce he is stepping down in his annual address to the nation on New Year's Eve.
    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 Renzi's centre-left Democratic Party (PD), at the time led by Pier Luigi Bersani, that scuppered the two candidates the group presented. At the time Napolitano made it clear that he would probably not complete his seven-year term.
    Earlier this year he said he wanted to give continuity at least until the end of Italy's duty presidency of the European Union, which ends in this month.
    "All the political parties will have to conduct a serious reflection on what Italy needs in the next seven years," Renzi said.
    "I hope the new president is elected with the greatest possible number of votes. We'll see if that's possible".