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Italian lawmakers began voting today for their nation's new president, a step toward resolving the political impasse that has blocked formation of a new government for two months.
Political parties have sparred for weeks over suitable candidates to succeed Giorgio Napolitano, whose term expires next month, but center-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani and center-right leader Silvio Berlusconi have reportedly now reached agreement.
The presidency is a largely ceremonial post but with powers that include dissolving Parliament and calling new elections.
The president, traditionally a widely respected figure supposed to be above the political fray, can also play a critical role in fostering national unity, which could prove vital now as politicians squabble over how to rebuild Italy's recession-mired economy.
Former longtime centrist union leader and ex-Senate president Franco Marini is widely reported to be the consensus choice. But Bersani's party is largely split, and the third biggest force in Parliament, the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement led by comic Beppe Grillo, is pushing another candidate, a constitutional law expert.
The bickering over the president reflects the divisions that lawmakers have been unable to overcome since the February 24-25 national elections that saw the center-left win control of the lower Chamber of Deputies but fail to do so in the Senate.
Bersani has repeatedly rebuffed an offer from media mogul Berlusconi to form a "grand coalition" government in a bid to stave off new elections.
The new president will sound out political leaders to see who commands enough votes in Parliament to try to form the new government, a process that could last weeks. Napolitano earlier asked Bersani to see if he could secure the necessary support, but Bersani came up short.
Voting in joint session for president are both the lower and upper chambers of Parliament plus regional representatives. A two-thirds majority is required in the first three rounds of balloting; after that, a simple majority can elect the head of state. The vote could take several days.
