Italian President Rejects Craxi Resignation
ROME — Newly installed Italian President Francesco Cossiga on Thursday rejected the traditional resignation offer submitted by Socialist Prime Minister Bettino Craxi, who heads a five-party coalition.
Cossiga, a Christian Democrat, met briefly with Craxi at the Quirinale Palace and then issued a statement saying the Cabinet should stay on.
It is traditional in Italy for the prime minister to offer his resignation after a new president is installed.
Government sources have said, however, that Craxi may reshuffle some top posts in his two-year-old government. In addition to Craxi’s Socialists, the coalition includes the dominant Christian Democrats and three small parties, the Republicans, Liberals and Social Democrats.
Cossiga, 56, was sworn in Wednesday in a ceremony during which he delivered a nationally televised address to Parliament. He then traveled in a motorcade flanked by elegantly attired horsemen to the imposing Victor Emmanuele monument, where he laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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