Berlusconi submits his coalition's resignation
By Tony Barber in Rome
Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's prime minister, has submitted his government's resignation with the aim of forming a new cabinet and overcoming a crisis that has torn apart his ruling centre-right coalition.
Yielding to intense pressure from two parties in his four-party coalition, Mr Berlusconi tendered his resignation yesterday to Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, the head of state. Mr Ciampi, who asked Mr Berlusconi to remain in office for the moment, will consult political leaders today to assess the prospects for a new Berlusconi government.
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/f9fad10c-b204-11d9-8c61-00000e2511c8.html
[....] Some politicians say the coalition has been so weakened by recent events that there will have to be a national election by October. The next poll does not have to be called until May next year. An October election would present difficulties because it would fall in the middle of the period when, in normal circumstances, parliament would be debating the 2006 budget.
Comment/Question: So far the machinations in Italian government are remarkably lacking in toying with change(s) in Iraq policy, i.e. withdrawal, which to appearances would make Berlusconi's coalition substantially more viable. Any ideas about why this doesn't seem to be on the table, or at what point in the process of reassembling a cabinet it would be?