Berlusconi treedt eventjes af (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Silvio Berlusconi has stepped down as Italy's prime minister, following a meeting with the president, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, on Wednesday (20 April) evening.

Mr Ciampi has duly asked Mr Berlusconi and his cabinet team to stay in office during the interim, until a new prime minister is chosen, according to agency reports.

"This is to enable the normal business of government to go on. For example, the Italian transport minister will attend the European Council meeting in Luxembourg tomorrow as planned", sources within the Italian government indicated.

"But they cannot initiate any new laws during this period", he added.

Mr Berlusconi will not be going for good though.

The president is widely expected to reappoint the media mogul after a few days' consultation with parliamentary chiefs, as well as former Italian presidents.

"In theory, he could refuse to reappoint Mr Berlusconi. But pragmatically speaking, he will choose the person with a parliamentary majority, which is Mr Berlusconi", the Italian government contact said.

The leader of the Forza Italia (FI) party then plans to form a new cabinet and to continue leading the government until the end of its present mandate in 2006.

The prime minister decided to step down after the National Alliance (AN), the second largest member of the existing coalition after Forza Italia, threatened to walk away from the team.

The National Alliance, which includes Italy's foreign minister Gianfranco Fini, was pushing for Mr Berlusconi to take action in response to Forza Italia's plunging popularity.

The right-wing party suffered a humiliating rout during Italy's regional elections on 3 to 4 April.

Another coalition partner, the Christian Democrats (UDC), had already abandoned ship following the poll. The tiny New Italian Socialist Party has also pulled out.

Mr Berlusconi's popularity has also waned on the back of Italy's involvement in the Iraq conflict.