Casellati set for'exploratory' mandate

(ANSA) - Rome, April 18 - President Sergio Mattarella is expected to give Senate Speaker Elisabetta Alberti Casellati an exploratory mandate to seek ways to end Italy's post-election political deadlock after calling her to his office on Wednesday.
    Italy does not look close to having a new government a month and a half after its inconclusive election on March 4.
    Last week Mattarella said the political parties had not made significant progress towards the formation of a new government after a second round of formal political consultations.