Giorgio Napolitano

Italian lawmakers elected Sergio Mattarella, a constitutional court judge, as president today, handing a welcome political victory to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano has resigned as promised, less than two years after accepting an unprecedented second term as head of state because squabbling lawmakers couldn't agree on a successor.

Italy's chronic political instability could soon be consigned to history after a deal between Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Silvio Berlusconi was hailed on Thursday as a breakthrough for radical electoral reform.

Italy's president Giorgio Napolitano, who reluctantly agreed to a second term in 2013 at a time of political crisis, may step down in January, five years before the end of his term, political commentators said on Sunday.

Queen Elizabeth II - bearing a basket of honey, whiskey and other goodies from the royal estates - paid a visit to Pope Francis at the Vatican on Thursday.

Centre-left leader Matteo Renzi was set to be nominated as Italy's youngest prime minister in a matter of days after a party coup forced Enrico Letta to resign as premier of the euro zone state struggling to pull out of recession.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano began meeting political leaders on Friday after Prime Minister Enrico Letta's resignation, with leftist leader Matteo Renzi virtually certain to win the nomination to succeed him.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has said the trial of two marines in India over the killing of two Indian fishermen has run into new "difficulty" because of upcoming general elections in that country.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has voiced support for two Marines charged with murder in India and urged a "fair and rapid" trial for the duo.

Italy's Silvio Berlusconi on Monday requested a review of his tax fraud trial head of a vote this week that will likely force him from parliament.

Italy's president on Sunday rejected Silvio Berlusconi's call for a pardon over his conviction for tax fraud and told the centre-right leader he must stay within the law in his protests if he is expelled from parliament this week.

Italy's Silvio Berlusconi is in for a tumultuous week that will likely see him booted out of parliament and shift into opposition to a government where he is still formally a coalition partner.

Italy is working ceaselessly for the early return of two Italian marines facing trial in India for murdering two fishermen, President Giorgio Napolitano said today.

A Silvio Berlusconi loyalist warned on Saturday of a possible "civil war" unless ex-premier's punishment for tax-fraud conviction is not lifted, as his aides maneuvered to win a presidential pardon so he can avoid a prison term and a ban on holding public office.

Italy's centre right must push through justice reform or withdraw from the coalition government, Silvio Berlusconi told his People of Freedom (PDL) party yesterday after his conviction for tax fraud was upheld by the Supreme Court.

Italian lawmakers elected Sergio Mattarella, a constitutional court judge, as president today, handing a welcome political victory to Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano has resigned as promised, less than two years after accepting an unprecedented second term as head of state because squabbling lawmakers couldn't agree on a successor.

Italy's chronic political instability could soon be consigned to history after a deal between Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and Silvio Berlusconi was hailed on Thursday as a breakthrough for radical electoral reform.

Italy's president Giorgio Napolitano, who reluctantly agreed to a second term in 2013 at a time of political crisis, may step down in January, five years before the end of his term, political commentators said on Sunday.

Queen Elizabeth II - bearing a basket of honey, whiskey and other goodies from the royal estates - paid a visit to Pope Francis at the Vatican on Thursday.

Centre-left leader Matteo Renzi was set to be nominated as Italy's youngest prime minister in a matter of days after a party coup forced Enrico Letta to resign as premier of the euro zone state struggling to pull out of recession.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano began meeting political leaders on Friday after Prime Minister Enrico Letta's resignation, with leftist leader Matteo Renzi virtually certain to win the nomination to succeed him.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has said the trial of two marines in India over the killing of two Indian fishermen has run into new "difficulty" because of upcoming general elections in that country.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has voiced support for two Marines charged with murder in India and urged a "fair and rapid" trial for the duo.

Italy's Silvio Berlusconi on Monday requested a review of his tax fraud trial head of a vote this week that will likely force him from parliament.

Italy's president on Sunday rejected Silvio Berlusconi's call for a pardon over his conviction for tax fraud and told the centre-right leader he must stay within the law in his protests if he is expelled from parliament this week.

Italy's Silvio Berlusconi is in for a tumultuous week that will likely see him booted out of parliament and shift into opposition to a government where he is still formally a coalition partner.

Italy is working ceaselessly for the early return of two Italian marines facing trial in India for murdering two fishermen, President Giorgio Napolitano said today.

A Silvio Berlusconi loyalist warned on Saturday of a possible "civil war" unless ex-premier's punishment for tax-fraud conviction is not lifted, as his aides maneuvered to win a presidential pardon so he can avoid a prison term and a ban on holding public office.

Italy's centre right must push through justice reform or withdraw from the coalition government, Silvio Berlusconi told his People of Freedom (PDL) party yesterday after his conviction for tax fraud was upheld by the Supreme Court.