Napolitano opens talks on forming a new government, end political paralysis
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President Giorgio Napolitano launches his unprecedented second term with accelerated consultations aimed at forming a new government.
Napolitano, 87, has urged parties to quickly agree on a new government, chastising them for treating the notion of a political alliance as a "horror" and urging them to face the reality that no party in Feb. 24-25 elections won control of both houses.
Napolitano meets Tuesday morning with leaders of both chambers, then consults with party caucuses into the evening.
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The caretaker government of Mario Monti remains in place until a new government is formed.
The center-left, which controls the lower house but not the Senate, refused to consider an alliance with former Premier Silvio Berlusconi, and failed to persuade the anti-establishment movement of comic-turned-political leader Beppe Grillo to join forces.