Craxi’s Coalition Government in Italy Revived, Vote of Confidence Ordered
ROME — Italy’s president used a rarely invoked constitutional procedure today to revive Premier Bettino Craxi’s coalition government, which fell over its handling of the Achille Lauro hijacking.
President Francesco Cossiga, during a half-hour meeting with Craxi, rejected the Socialist leader’s 2-week-old resignation and told him to seek a vote of confidence for the coalition in Parliament.
The move had been expected after the five parties in the coalition patched up their differences Wednesday and adopted a tougher policy toward the Palestine Liberation Organization.
The constitutional procedure, used only four times before, was possible because the president accepted Craxi’s resignation with “reserve,†meaning it was not official until a new government was formed.
Craxi told reporters there would be no changes in his Cabinet. He said he would seek a vote of confidence Monday.
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