Italy to continue without government

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano said that there will be no government in the country until at least summer.

The issue is the formation of the Cabinet of Ministers which makes up the government leadership and is formed by the parliamentary majority party or a coalition of ruling parties.

Following the recent parliamentary elections the center-right won a majority in the upper house while the center-left won a majority in the lower house.

Since then they have not been able to agree on a power sharing coalition and the president Giorgio Napolitano has been forced to call on the so-called "Council of Elders" to break the deadlock.

Experts have suggested that a special decree be issued by the president to determine which of the houses of parliament will form the cabinet. However the president, whose term in office ends in May, has declined such an honor.

He has stressed that his successor will have to deal with the crisis.