ROME, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The first ballot to elect Italy's next president ended with inconclusive results on Monday, after a procedure that lasted over five hours.
Casting their votes were some 1,008 "grand electors," namely all the members of the parliament plus 58 representatives chosen by regional councils.
With a large majority of blank ballots among all those registered at the end of the day, no majority was found on any name.
The outcome of this first round was largely expected, since no official candidate was backed by both alliances -- center-left and center-right -- holding the most parliamentary seats and currently governing the country together in the coalition cabinet.
According to the Italian constitution, a majority of two-thirds in the first three rounds of voting is required to elect a president, followed by a simple majority, or at least 505 votes, from the fourth on.
The parliament in the joint session of both houses will keep gathering this week to hold new rounds of voting until a candidate gathers enough support.
The seven-year term of President Sergio Mattarella will expire on Feb. 3.
The president in Italy is a traditionally ceremonial figure that plays a balancing role within the institutional landscape.
However, the role becomes crucial in cases of broad political instability, since the president is tasked with helping solve major deadlocks between the government and the parliament. ■
