Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi said he will not serve a
second term.
"I'm convinced that seven years up here (in the president's
palace) are already a lot, another seven would ... perhaps mean a
kind of republican monarchy," the 85-year-old president told
Italian daily Corriere della Sera in an interview
published on Tuesday.
"Fortunately, age is on my side and in a certain sense rules out
the possibility of a second mandate," Ciampi said.
He stressed that he would not be retiring from the political
scene altogether since, like all former presidents, he would become
a life senator.
"I will continue to follow the country's political and
institutional developments... and make my contribution," he added,
whose seven-year mandate expires on May 18.
Politicians of all stripes have urged Ciampi to consider a
second term.
The calls have grown following the uncertain political climate
created by Premier Silvio Berlusconi's refusal to admit defeat in
Italy's April 9/10 election.
Many political observers expressed hope that Ciampi, a former
premier and Bank of Italy governor, would stay on to help steer
Italy through the post-election battling.
Italian Supreme Court must deliver a final verdict on the vote
outcome this week, according to the report.
Then the incoming parliament is scheduled to elect a president
on May 12-13 and Ciampi has made it clear that he wants his
successor to appoint the new premier.
Italian presidents are elected by parliament. A two thirds
majority is needed, meaning that in practice a head of state cannot
be chosen by the governing majority alone.
(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2006)
