February 28, 2013 | International
Italian President Says Forming New Government Cannot Be Rushed
REFILE - REMOVING WORD AT THE END OF SECOND SENTENCE ITALY'S PRESIDENT GIORGIO NAPOLITANO GESTURES DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE FOLLOWING TALKS WITH GERMAN COUNTERPART JOACHIM GAUCK IN BERLIN FEBRUARY 28, 2013
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said on Thursday that the formation of a new government could not be rushed because of what he said were unfounded fears that Italy was a threat to the stability of Europe.
Napolitano told reporters during a visit to Berlin that the Italian constitution requires 20 days between elections - which were held on Sunday and Monday - and the new parliament sitting for the first time.
"I don't see right now how it could be accelerated. But it is important to say that Italy is not without a government, there is a government in office until the new one is sworn in," he said. "Italy is not a contagion risk for anyone."
REUTERS