Italy's president, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, unlikely to dissolve parliament during his last year of office, is another nimble ex-Christian Democrat.

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In the midst of crises, Mr Scalfaro picked the other four, including the incumbent, Mr D'Alema, and Mr Ciampi himself .

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In his seven-year term, Mr Scalfaro tapped six prime ministers, of whom only two, Silvio Berlusconi on the right and Mr Prodi on the centre-left, had actually won an election.

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President Scalfaro was then left with three options.

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President Oscar Luigi Scalfaro's own seven-year term of office expires in April next year and, according to the constitution, he cannot dissolve parliament and call a general election for the six months before that event.

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