Italian President hopeful govt will last the course
Napolitano sees 'benign' developments in political situation
01 September, 17:54
(ANSA) - Rome, September 1 - Italian President Giorgio
Napolitano said Wednesday that he was hopeful Silvio
Berlusconi's centre-right government would last until the end of
its five-year term in 2013.Early elections had looked in the cards for a spell last month after rebels loyal to House Speaker Gianfranco Fini split in July from the People of Freedom (PdL) party Fini co-founded with Berlusconi.
But last week Berlusconi agreed with key ally the Northern League, whose leader Umberto Bossi had been calling for elections, to forge ahead on the basis of a revamped five-point government manifesto to be put to a confidence vote on September 15.
''We are moving towards a more benign development (in the situation),'' Napolitano told reporters Wednesday while stressing that he was not making any forecasts and that there was a climate of ''political fever''.
The Fini rebels have said they will vote for four of the five policy points but want changes to the fifth, judicial reform, to avoid any appearance of an ''amnesty'' for the premier, who is involved in two trials in Milan.
