Do not rush to form gov’t: Italy’s president

BERLIN

Napolitano says Italy is not a contagion risk for anyone. REUTERS photo

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said yesterday that the formation of a new government could not be rushed because of what he said were unfounded fears that Italy was a threat to the stability of Europe.

Napolitano told reporters during a visit to Berlin that the Italian Constitution requires 20 days between elections, which were held on Feb. 24 and 25, and the new Parliament sitting for the first time.

“I don’t see right now how it could be accelerated. But it is important to say that Italy is not without a government, there is a government in office until the new one is sworn in,” he said. “Italy is not a contagion risk for anyone.”

Napolitano’s warning came after populist leader Beppe Grillo slammed the door on overtures from center-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani.

Comedian turned populist firebrand Grillo said his Five Star Movement (M5S) would not endorse the Bersani’s Democratic Party (PD), which won the most votes in the election earlier this week, but not enough to form a majority in Parliament.

“The M5S is not going to give a vote of confidence to the Democratic Party or to anyone else,” Grillo, who has channeled the frustrations of austerity-weary Italians, wrote on his blog Feb. 27.

 The comment appeared to be a rejection of overtures from the PD, which on Feb. 26 suggested working with M5S on key measures such as slashing government costs and helping Italy’s poorest through a grinding recession. Grillo said the PD had made a series of “indecent proposals.” PD leader Pier Luigi Bersani retorted with a statement saying: “If Grillo has something to say to me, including the insults, I want to hear it in Parliament.”

Compiled from AFP and Reuters by the Daily News staff.