But a doubt remains on the validity of the connection of the 45

After over a week of suspense, the Electoral Office of the Court of cassation should make its final verdict on the outcome of the elections on 9 and 10 April, today or tomorrow. Logically, the High Court should confirm thin electoral victory of the coalition of Romano Prodi (with 25.224 votes in the House and two seats of gap in the Senate), given that challenges are more than on 5.266 votes. But a doubt remains on the validity of the connection of the 45.580 votes obtained by the League of the Lombard Alliance with the centre-left coalition, following an objection from the Northern League.

Without waiting for official confirmation of his victory, Romano Prodi is something to reassure markets on its margin of manoeuvre and the strength of his coalition. "The situation is difficult, if by the fault of the Government Berlusconi." "We will demonstrate by our policy that we are able to make a difference", he said yesterday, in response to the serious doubts issued including the "Financial Times". Once is not custom, the elect of Forza Italia and the economy Minister, Giulio Tremonti, were the first to applaud the editorial in the British newspaper that the low score of the centre-left is "the worst imaginable outcome for the Italy in terms of chances of staying in eurozone beyond 2015".

Despite the apparent serenity of the former President of the European Commission, some voices, including on the left, begin to worry about the negative impact of this period of "institutional floating" on the credibility of the future Government. In the eyes of employers, a first crucial test will be the maintenance of a "reasonable" on the flexibility of the labour market to requests for full repeal of the Biagi reform put forward by the CGIL (Italian CGT) and Rifondazione Comunista. But expected of him, also, an urgent signal on the reduction of public debt (106.4 of GDP in 2005).

At the rate things are going, each passing day may start a little more authority. In an interview with "corriere della Sera" yesterday, the current President of the Republic, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, eighty-five years including the term term 18 mai, confirmed its intention not to seek a second term of seven years. But uncertainty remains on its intention to expedite the appointment of the Prodi government, without waiting for the election of his successor on May 12-13. Otherwise, the formation of the Government would be ipso facto postponed until the second half of May.

Reassure the markets

According to Valdo Spini, Member of the National Directorate of the left Democrats (DS), the fact that the current head of State says not seeking a second term does not mean that it cannot accede to a request of the Parliament in this sense. Among his potential successors, cited the former President of the Council, Giuliano Amato, and lifetime Senator Giorgio Napolitano. But the name of the current President of DS, Massimo D'Alema, is also mentioned, although it is more likely that it inherits from the Presidency of the Chamber of Deputies.

In this context, some observers believe that Romano Prodi would have any interest to designate, The odds-on favorite remains the former member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB), Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa, because he could reassure markets more quickly.