President Sergio Mattarella said
Tuesday "elections represent the highest moment of democratic
life, to be always faced with confident serenity: their
schedule, Constitutionally set, is physiological in any
democratic system".
Speaking on the occasion of he exchange of holiday wishes
with the State's highest offices including the parliamentary
Speakers, Mattarella said Italy's new election law averted
the "anomaly" of having two different laws for each chamber of
parliament.
The legislature is coming to an end paving the way for a
start to the process of new elections, Mattarella said.
Most observers expect the next general election to take place
on March 4.
Political parties should now reflect and try to do the good
of Italy, Mattarella said.
"An awareness of the general interest is needed," he said,
and of the "historical moment".
"Realistic" proposals are needed to counter Italy's growing
abstentionism ahead of the next general election, Mattarella
said.
After a recent upsurge in racist attacks and anti-Semitic
episodes, Mattarella said Italy has the "necessary
antibodies" against racism, anti-Semitism and fanaticism of all
kinds.
Finally, Mattarella said "the last year of the legislative
term registered further important objectives.
"It allowed us to accompany the economic recovery, boosting
it".
Italy's economic growth "offers new opportunities,"
Mattarella said.
But he said unemployment remained "seriously high" in the
south.
Senate Speaker Pietro Grasso told the president that everyone
had "absolute faith" in his "solid lead" after the next general
election, when he will be the arbiter of the
government-formation process.
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