http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4757895.stm

Former communist Giorgio Napolitano has been elected president of Italy, clearing the way for the creation of a new government.
The 80-year-old won an absolute majority of 543 votes out of a possible 1,009 after a fourth round of voting.

Mr Napolitano was the chosen candidate of incoming PM Romano Prodi, but faced opposition from the conservatives.

Mr Prodi has decided on his key cabinet positions and says he will be ready to govern within several days.

Mr Napolitano is the country's 11th post-war president and a well-respected figure from the Democrats of the Left, the biggest party in Mr Prodi's coalition, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome.


Mr Prodi, who narrowly won parliamentary elections last month, says Mr Napolitano will be sworn in next Monday and that he will be given a mandate for his new government that Wednesday.

This probably means that the week after, they will have a vote of confidence in both houses for Mr Prodi's new government, our correspondent says.

Once a commie always a commie, but I could give a shit about Italy.

Once a commie always a commie, but I could give a shit about Italy.
Careful about those "I could not give a shit about Italy" comments, otherwise you may have some "goodfellas" come to your door.:D

Thats interesting, the guy is from Naples of all places.

lol, 80 years old?
oh well this gouv. cant possibly do any worse then berlusconi did. lets hope they can drag italy back up, and make it a liveble state.

btw few days ago berlusconi threathened to not pay his tax anymore if a radical leftwinger would be chosen. I wonder if he keeps to that, the richest man of italy.