Rome: Inaugurating his second seven-year mandate, talian President Sergio Mattarella was sworn in on Thursday.
Mattarella received an astounding 55 rounds of applause from an otherwise divided parliament after he was sworn in to a second term in office.
Mattarella, 80, agreed to remain in office after Italy’s fractious parties failed to agree on a successor, citing a sense of responsibility given the ongoing pandemic and efforts to relaunch the economy.
His decision to remain in office as head of state is expected to allow the current government, headed by Premier Mario Draghi, to finish its mandate, which expires next year. The role is largely ceremonial, but can also require institutional knowledge and deft negotiations to navigate political crises.
After the swearing-in ceremony in the parliament, an acrobatic flight team exhibited in a traditional aerial parade as the president and Prime Minister Mario Draghi were being driven from the lower house to the Quirinale presidential palace.
In Italy, the president is traditionally a ceremonial figure that represents national unity. However, the role becomes crucial in the case of major political impasses.
