The lawmaker, Sara Cunial, said she would file an official protest, Italian media reported.Įx-Premier Silvio Berlusconi withdrew his controversial candidacy to be president on Saturday.
One anti-vaccine lawmaker, who had earlier been expelled for her anti-science views from the populist 5-Star Movement and who now has no party allegiance, refused to take a COVID-19 test and was not allowed to vote. By special arrangement, a good dozen electors who have COVID-19 were allowed to cast their ballots at a parking lot drive-in behind Parliament. Giovanni Toti, who leads a small center-right party.Īs part of COVID-19 safety protocols, traditional voting booths were replaced by easier to sanitize pass-through door-less structures, and the electors were instructed to use hand sanitizer before filling out their ballot. “The process will take some days,” said Liguria Gov. Neither of Parliament’s two main blocs has enough votes for a simple majority, meaning parties are scrambling to reach a consensus as well as win pledges of support from about 90 electors not aligned with either bloc. Presidents can also send legislation back to Parliament and dissolve the legislature ahead of its term in case it loses its working majority. The presidency is a largely ceremonial post that still requires political acumen to steer Italy through its frequent political crises. Starting with the fourth round Thursday a simple majority of 505 votes would clinch victory. But that session, too, was likely to fall short of giving the nation a new president, as more closed-door political consultations among allies and rivals were scheduled. Some six hours after the session began, the tally was announced, with 672 ballots cast with no name written on them.Īmong the array of names gathering a smattering of support, with 16 votes, was outgoing President Sergio Mattarella, 80, who has repeatedly said he did not want to run again.Ī second round of voting was set for Tuesday afternoon. On Monday, that number was reached - but with blank ballots. With special pandemic precautions, balloting began even as party leaders huddled during a flurry of backroom meetings to try to find a candidate who could cement consensus across the political spectrum for the office, which is supposed to represent national unity and be above partisan politics.ĭuring the first three rounds of voting, a two-thirds majority, or 672 votes, is necessary to win. ROME (AP) - A first round of voting in Italy’s Parliament for the country’s next president yielded an avalanche of blank ballots Monday, as lawmakers and special regional electors failed to deliver a winner amid a political stalemate.
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