Italy snap vote likely as interim govt plan fails
688716
"I think this risks being a missed opportunity for Italian politics, rushing towards elections with a flawed law"  By Silvia Aloisi and Robin PomeroyROME  - Italy's Senate speaker gave up trying to form a temporary government on Monday, making a snap election the only likely way out of a political vacuum left when Romano Prodi resigned as prime minister last month.Senate speaker Franco Marini, who had been asked by the president to seek cross-party backing for an interim administration to reform the electoral system ahead of a vote, said there was no such support."I could not find a significant majority on a precise electoral reform," Marini told reporters as he left President Giorgio Napolitano's office after handing back his mandate to try to form a new government. Read more
751717
Italy's president will decide on Saturday who should now lead Italy's government after the shock resignation of Prime Minister Romano Prodi.
45870
A defeat in parliament for Romano Prodi raised new worries Friday about the stability of Italy's center-left governing coalition and prompted opposition calls for the premier's resignation.
761142
Italy's Romano Prodi holds a special cabinet session after his fragile coalition loses a key foreign policy vote.
16030
Italian PM Romano Prodi loses a Senate confidence vote that threatens to bring down his government.
197412
European Parliament leaders fail to agree on the fate of Italy's nominee for justice commissioner, Rocco Buttiglione.
55375
Prime Minister Romano Prodi faced a confidence vote in parliament on Friday over his efforts to push through an unpopular budget he described as bitter medicine that Italy has to swallow to get its finances in order.
90403
Italy's president consulted with minor  parties on Saturday in an effort to resolve a political crisis,  with politicians divided between favoring snap elections or an  interim government to enact reforms.
754428
Italy's political crisis enters a decisive week with a snap election and a return to power of Silvio Berlusconi's centre right looking ever more likely after the collapse of Romano Prodi's government.
99606
Italy's fragile coalition loses a crucial senate vote on keeping troops in Afghanistan, seen as a test of government unity.
609141
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi, who resigned over a foreign policy defeat last week only to be reappointed a few days later, will fight for his government's survival as he faces a confidence vote this week.
93296
BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Italy&#39;s nominee to become the European Union&#39;s Justice and Home Affairs commissioner failed on Monday to win the backing of the European Parliament&#39;s Justice Committee, days after testifying that he considers homosexuality a sin.
633264
Italy said on Wednesday Iraqi elections planned for Jan. 30 should be seen through because any postponement could deal a blow to the prospects of a stable democracy emerging in the country.
472490
Italian political commentators said the breakdown of Monday's negotiations, though not wholly surprising, augured badly for the centre-left's efforts to defeat Silvio Berlusconi, prime minister, and his ...
732410
Premier Silvio Berlusconi kept up his suggestion that he will step down if allies do not fully back his plans on income tax cuts, saying in a newspaper article that failure to pass the fiscal reform would ...
210598
Italy's president will decide on Saturday whether Romano Prodi deserves another chance to lead the nation as prime minister after a Senate rebellion forced his shock resignation.
298768
Italy's president was due to dissolve parliament on Wednesday ahead of snap elections, likely in mid-April, that could mark a return to power of media magnate Silvio Berlusconi.