Italy elected a new president on Wednesday, ending a lengthy period of political limbo and opening the way for Romano Prodi to become prime minister more than a month after beating Silvio Berlusconi at the polls.

Giorgio Napolitano (C), senator of Democrats of the Left and one of the candidates for the election of the new head of state, holds his ballot after the vote at the Italian Parliament in Rome May 8, 2006. Napolitano, an ex-communist, has won enough votes to become Italy's new president, according to a provisional ballot count still under way on May 10 in parliament. [Reuters]

Prodi's candidate, Giorgio Napolitano, an ex-communist 80-year-old life senator, secured 543 votes from the "grand electors" -- parliamentarians and regional representatives -- 38 more than the absolute majority needed.

The result is an important victory for Prodi who cannot take office until the new president is in place and gives him a mandate to form a government.

After the vote, Prodi told reporters he expected to be able to swear in his new government by next Wednesday -- after Napolitano takes over as head of state from outgoing President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi.

The result was the latest blow for outgoing Prime Minister Berlusconi who had refused to back Napolitano, saying his voters would not understand if his bloc backed a former communist.

But Prodi's coalition pushed their candidate through against the wishes of the opposition after three initial rounds of voting -- during which a two-thirds majority was needed -- resulted in political stalemate.

Berlusconi grudgingly acknowledged Napolitano's election. "We are still convinced that half of the country has been excluded," he said. "This is not the will of the people but we wish him well and good work.

Page:

1

2