Italy’s President Resigning Early

Italy’s political crisis deepened Saturday when President Francesco Cossiga announced he will step down two months early to “shock” the country’s politicians into quickly forming a new government.

On Friday, Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti resigned after a disappointing result for his long-dominant party, the Christian Democrats, in April 5 parliamentary elections.

Cossiga, whose seven-year term was due to expire July 3, said in a televised speech that he was resigning effective Tuesday. Andreotti, at Cossiga’s request, is staying on in a caretaker capacity.