Enrico Letta accepts to become Italy's prime minister-designate

The appointment could see an end to two months of parliamentary deadlock in the country. The 46-year-old Letta is expected to begin naming his cabinet ministers. Then the new administration will have to win confidence votes in parliament before starting its tenure.
 
President Napolitano, who was re-elected on Saturday, said this week that he would move quickly to name someone who could run a “bipartisan government” in the hope of ending the two-month political impasse.
 
A broad alliance would include Silvio Berlusconi's right-wing group. But such forced political marriage may not last long. Meanwhile, Letta already has extensive government experience and is seen as a "post-ideological" moderate able to bring together the wrangling parties.
 
The new government would be expected to try to implement a limited range of economic and institutional reforms.
 
The eurozone's third largest economy has been mired in a bitter political crisis since February general election. A centre-left coalition led by the Democratic Party came first but failed to win an overall parliamentary majority.
 
The gridlock has spooked European capitals. The investors had warned that prolonged uncertainty could lead to instability in Italy. Business leaders, trade unionists and the Catholic Church have urged politicians to act quickly. They say a painful recession forces firms to shut down and leaves many Italians struggling to make ends meet.