What Italian President Giorgio Napolitano calls “the only possible government” is a right and left wing coalition that brings together the People of Freedom Party (PDL) and the Democratic Party (PD). The new Prime Minister of Italy, Enrico Letta’s PD and former PM Silvio Berlusconi’s PDL are the leaders behind the “grand coalition” of right and left wing parties. Both chambers of Parliament will support the current government, according to President Napolitano.
The President is hopeful that despite innate differences the new Italian coalition government can function without conflict and prejudice and work in the spirit of cooperation. President Napolitano is serving his second term in office. There has been talk that the President would resign should the coalition government fail at its efforts to affect reforms.
Historic compromise
This “historic compromise” has no precedent. Historically, there was an attempt in the 1970s to form a coalition government. But the plans did not push through because of the kidnapping and eventual killing of Aldo Moro by terrorists.
In this Cabinet, the Director General of the Bank of Italy Fabrizio Saccomanni is appointed Economy Minister. The new Foreign Minister is European Union Commissioner Emma Bonino. She is the first foreign minister of Italy. Bonino is not the only woman who will occupy a Cabinet post. Letta hopes to renew Italy’s political scene by appointing younger ministers and increasing the female presence in the Cabinet.
A new Cabinet
Finally, after much waiting, the formation of the new Italian government has been announced. It took a long while before a compromise was reached. The election was held in February but the two months that followed was a political deadlock, one that has never been seen before in Italy. The newly-elected Prime Minister and the members of the Cabinet will be sworn in at the Quirinal Palace in Rome. Some of the other known appointments are “Iron Lady” Anna Maria Cancellieri (Justice Minister), Enrico Giovannini (Labor Minister), and Marion Mauro (Defence Minister).
An uneasy alliance
The grand coalition is being predicted to be an uneasy alliance primarily because of the continued influence of Berlusconi, even as he stays in the background. Berlusconi served as Italy’s prime minister for three terms in the past. While Letta is assuming the position of Prime Minister, Berlusconi will not assume any position, but top positions in the Cabinet will be given to members of his party. The secretary of the PDL Angelino Alfano is a close ally to Berlusconi and is appointed the new deputy prime minster and interior minister.
The new Italian government would have to face economic problems and unemployment, among others. Austerity measures have not improved the situation. The new prime minister, the youngest in Europe has stated that he will prioritize unemployment. Letta also intends to avoid more austerity measures in order to lead Italy away from the debt crisis of the Eurozone. Letta is promising to act on urgent reforms faster than his predecessor. But there is speculation that he may be in for a difficult time due to the diverse make-up of the coalition government.
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