Saudi Arabia welcomes trilateral border treaty between Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan    Trump prepares to unveil sweeping new US tariffs on 'Liberation Day'    At least 22 civilians killed in Israeli strike on UNRWA clinic in Gaza    UK says it won't jump into US trade war as Starmer urges calm response to tariffs    Russia, Ukraine trade fresh accusations of violating US-brokered energy ceasefire deal    Swedish table tennis legend Jörgen Persson appointed head coach of Saudi national team    Danilo Pereira fires Al Ittihad into King's Cup final with dramatic stoppage-time double    Over 1 million pilgrims benefit from golf cart service at Grand Mosque during Ramadan    Visitors welcomed with Eid initiative at Thee Ain Heritage Village in Al-Baha    Tebuk emir reviews rain response in Tayma    Saudi Arabia considers rent cap as part of major real estate reforms    Messi's bodyguard banned from touchline at Inter Miami games    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Haramain High-Speed Railway transports over 1.2 million passengers during Ramadan    Saudi Transport Authority says passengers can ride for free if taxi meters are off    Ministry of Education forms 425 community partnerships with SR653 million impact    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    T1 CEO confirms Gumayusi's return for LCK Spring after lineup shakeup    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



ITALY'S BERLUSCONI TO QUIT AND MAKE WAY FOR PRODI 2 ROME
Published in Saudi Press Agency on 29 - 04 - 2006

OFF DEFICIT PLUGS HAVE RUN OUT. THE 2005 DEFICIT OF 4.1 PERCENT OF GDP WAS THE HIGHEST SINCE 1996.
PRODI, A FORMER EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT, HAS MADE MUCH OF HIS FIVE YEARS IN BRUSSELS WHERE HE STOOD ON A WORLD STAGE AND EARNED A REPUTATION FOR SERIOUSNESS -- A CAMPAIGN MOTTO HE COINED TO CONTRAST WITH BERLUSCONI'S FLAMBOYANCE.
HE SAW EU EXPANSION AND THE INTRODUCTION OF THE EURO TO FRUITION, BUT HAD ONLY LIMITED SUCCESS IN HIS ATTEMPTS TO STAMP OUT WASTE AND FRAUD. HE LEFT MANY COLD WITH HIS LACK OF COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND PRESENCE.
WHILE WAITING FOR BERLUSCONI TO STEP DOWN, PRODI HAS BEEN WORKING WITH HIS PARTNERS TO TRY TO PUT TOGETHER A CABINET.
PRODI MANAGED TO GET HIS CANDIDATE ELECTED SPEAKER OF THE SENATE AT THE FOURTH ATTEMPT ON SATURDAY, BUT THE DRAWN-OUT VOTE REVEALED COALITION CRACKS THAT BODE ILL FOR FUTURE STABILITY.
PRODI MADE LIGHT OF THE PROBLEMS AHEAD AFTER HIS MAN FINALLY CLINCHED VICTORY WITH 165 VOTES IN THE 322-SEAT SENATE, AGAINST 156 FOR THE CENTRE RIGHT'S CANDIDATE, 87-YEAR-OLD ELDER STATESMAN GIULIO ANDREOTTI.
"TODAY WE HAVE A POSITIVE SITUATION AND I BELIEVE THE LEGISLATURE CAN BEGIN WELL," PRODI TOLD REPORTERS.
EARLIER ON SATURDAY, VETERAN COMMUNIST LEADER FAUSTO BERTINOTTI, WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.
PRODI'S SPOKESMAN SILVIO SIRCANA TOLD REUTERS THE ELECTION OF SPEAKERS FOR BOTH PARLIAMENTARY HOUSES HAD FORCED BERLUSCONI TO QUIT. "IT'S JUST NORMAL PROCEDURE. HE WAS OBLIGED TO RESIGN AT THE FIRST REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY," SAID SIRCANA.
CIAMPI WOULD NORMALLY HAVE THE TASK OF ASKING PRODI TO FORM A GOVERNMENT, BUT HIS TERM OF OFFICE EXPIRES IN MID-MAY AND HE HAS SIGNALLED THE JOB SHOULD FALL TO HIS SUCCESSOR. PRODI WOULD LIKE TO BE NOMINATED BEFORE THEN.


Clic here to read the story from its source.