Italian president Napolitano sworn in for unprecedented second mandate

ROME, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano on Monday became the first president in the country's history elected for a second mandate.

The 87-year-old resigned as president earlier in the day in a formal move to make it possible for him to be sworn in again.

Speaking before the MPs and regional representatives who elected him on Saturday, Napolitano said he appreciated that many newly-elected lawmakers of a diverse generation put so much trust in him.

However, Napolitano highlighted that his reelection was a "serious test" of his strength, and strongly called on parties to abandon the unforgivable "conveniences" and "tactics" to start working on effective reforms.

Napolitano, a member of the former Italian Communist Party who gained a reputation for impartiality, said he will do his best to break the deadlock in the formation of a new government that has endured since the Feb. 24-25 elections.

"But all political forces will have to take their own responsibilities" in facing the country's situation of "emergency and acute difficulties," he said.

Napolitano's reelection came after most parties in parliament asked him to stay on after failing to elect a successor in five inconclusive rounds of presidential voting.

The president is expected to name a new prime minister to lead a coalition government able to carry out urgent economic and institutional measures.

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