Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi is set to address parliament after the departure of an ally threatened to topple his fragile ruling coalition. Speaker Fausto Bertinotti said the centre-left PM had asked to address the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, on the "general political situation". There had been speculation he would resign on Monday after a former ally ruled out rejoining the government. Clemente Mastella, the former justice minister, called for an early election.
Speaker Fausto Bertinotti said the centre-left PM had asked to address the lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, on the "general political situation".
There had been speculation he would resign on Monday after a former ally ruled out rejoining the government.
Clemente Mastella, the former justice minister, called for an early election.
I will try to keep you abreast of the news here when possible. For background information on Mastella's case, I brought it up in my recent diary on papal shenanigans.
A fitting ritual. With the Pope's god on his side, Mastella may muster the courage to trash a government over his wife's arrest.
