Brussels, 10/05/2006 (Agence Europe) - Giorgio Napolitano (Democratici di sinistra) was elected on 10 May as the new President of Italy (in the fourth round of voting, by 543 votes).
Giorgio Napolitano, former president of the Italian Chamber of Deputies and former interior minister, was an MEP from 1989 to 1992 and from 1999 to the 2004 European elections. In his second term of office as MEP he was the very pro-active president of the European Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee.
The Italian members of the European Parliament's Socialist Group have welcomed Napolitano's election. Nicola Zingaretti has sent him a message of congratulation, recognising his huge contribution, with all the passion and determination that characterise him, to the integration process and the modernising of the institutions, following in the footsteps of the most robust pro-European tradition in Italy. Gianni Pittella pays tribute to Napolitano's wisdom and balance which means he could be a President for all Italians and the institutional guide Italy needs.
The European Movement - Italy, of which Giorgio Napolitano is the president, has also welcomed Napolitano's election as President of Italy. The European Movement's external relations officer, Cristiano Zagari, notes in a press release that Giorgio Napolitano's election mark the natural continuation in Italy of the path followed by Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, and the positive political situation personified by Napolitano and Prodi would enable Italy to re-assume its natural positive role in the EU and ability to make suggestions at European level. (See EUROPE 8467 on Giorgio Napolitano's speech at the event in 2003 to celebrate Agence EUROPE's fiftieth anniversary attended by Jacques Delors).