Originally intended as a largely ceremonial post, the presidency of Italy has grown in power and prestige as successive postwar Cabinet coalitions have proved incapable of dealing with the nation's problems. The President has the authority to appoint the Premier and his ministers, to help set the tone of foreign and domestic policy by his appointments, and to cow squabbling politicians by threatening to call elections at almost any time. He also has the ability to plunge Italian politics into months of utter chaos every seven years by the mere process of...
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