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20/04/2005
Berlusconi announces plans to resign
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has announced that will resign from his post today, in order to form a new government.
Mr Berlusconi was expected to visit President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi today in order to formally tender his resignation.
Mr Berlusconi’s coalition government was weakened when one of the parties – the Union of Christian Democrats – withdrew its support for the government and removed its four ministers from the cabinet. Other coalition parties, the National Alliance and the New Italian Socialist Party, have also reportedly threatened to withdraw from the government. The parties want Mr Berlusconi to change some of his policies.
The crisis follows a poor showing for Mr Berlusconi’s party, Forza Italia, in the recent regional elections.
Mr Berlusconi’s popularity has suffered significant damage recently, mainly due to the country’s slow economy. Italy’s involvement in the Iraq war has also proved to be unpopular.
Mr Berlusconi, who became Prime Minister in 2001, is now expected to attempt to form a new coalition government. He aims to become the first Italian Prime Minister since the end of the Second World War to serve a full five-year term.
Italy’s next general election is due to be held in May 2006. However, if Mr Berlusconi fails to secure a new coalition, the election will be brought forward by a year and some reports indicate that an election could be held as early as June.
(KMcA/GB)
Mr Berlusconi was expected to visit President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi today in order to formally tender his resignation.
Mr Berlusconi’s coalition government was weakened when one of the parties – the Union of Christian Democrats – withdrew its support for the government and removed its four ministers from the cabinet. Other coalition parties, the National Alliance and the New Italian Socialist Party, have also reportedly threatened to withdraw from the government. The parties want Mr Berlusconi to change some of his policies.
The crisis follows a poor showing for Mr Berlusconi’s party, Forza Italia, in the recent regional elections.
Mr Berlusconi’s popularity has suffered significant damage recently, mainly due to the country’s slow economy. Italy’s involvement in the Iraq war has also proved to be unpopular.
Mr Berlusconi, who became Prime Minister in 2001, is now expected to attempt to form a new coalition government. He aims to become the first Italian Prime Minister since the end of the Second World War to serve a full five-year term.
Italy’s next general election is due to be held in May 2006. However, if Mr Berlusconi fails to secure a new coalition, the election will be brought forward by a year and some reports indicate that an election could be held as early as June.
(KMcA/GB)
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