Lawmakers fail to elect new Italian president
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Italian lawmakers failed on Thursday to elect the nation's president during an initial round of voting, the latest worrisome symptom of the political discord that has thwarted the formation of a government for two months.
President Giorgio Napolitano's term ends next month, and choosing his successor is viewed as a critical step toward resolving the political impasse that resulted from inconclusive national elections for Parliament in February. While the presidency is mostly ceremonial, the post has the power to dissolve Parliament and call a new national election. (AP)
