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Berlusconi forms new govt
23/04/2005 11:44 - (SA)
Allessandra Rizzo
Rome - Conservative leader Silvio Berlusconi was tapped to form Italy's 60th postwar government in as many years, just two days after he quit as premier in a power struggle with his coalition allies.
Berlusconi received the mandate during a meeting on Friday with President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi. He will be aiming to form a new government that improves his sagging popularity and keeps him in power until the next election, due in mid-2006.
With Italians concerned about the economy and largely opposed to Italy's involvement in Iraq, polls have suggested that the centre-left bloc would win if elections were held now.
"Within a few days, the entire government team will be at work," Berlusconi told reporters after meeting Ciampi at the presidential palace in Rome.
"The focus of our action is the revival of businesses, the defence of the purchasing power of families and a plan of action for the south with the creation of new jobs," he said, referring to Italy's poorer south. He said the new platform was agreed with his conservative allies.
Strong government needed
Berlusconi will now put the finishing touches to his list of ministers, which he must submit to the president. He said the new government might be sworn in as early as Saturday and face a confirmation vote in parliament early next week.
The centre-left opposition had demanded early elections, and insisted on Friday that the new cabinet would be a weaker version of the one that just resigned and would not be able to run the country.
"I feel this is a situation of great weakness. I say it with worry because the country needs a strong, authoritative government," said Massimo d'Alema, a leading figure in the centre-left opposition.
Berlusconi resigned on Wednesday, giving in to demands by his allies that he step down and form a new cabinet - a technique used by several Italian premiers in the past to strengthen faltering coalitions.
Berlusconi, who likes to portray himself as a new-style politician, had originally dismissed it as an old trick of Italian politics. With one year to go until the election, he was hoping that his four-year-old government would be the first since World War II to serve the full term.
Berlusconi changed course after a top ally threatened to withdraw its ministers from the government, a move that would have brought it down. A smaller coalition party pulled out last week.
Berlusconi's immediate troubles stem from his conservative coalition's embarrassing defeat in regional elections this month.
Berlusconi said before the regional vote that the Italian troops may begin coming back in September, but stressed the decision would depend on the security situation on the ground and would be made in agreement with the United States and other allies. - AP
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