ROME -- With special pandemic precautions, balloting began Monday in Italy's Parliament on who should become the country's next president, even as party leaders huddled to try to forge a consensus with no clear slate yet of candidates.
Italy's lawmakers and a smaller group of special regional representatives are voting this week for a successor to Sergio Mattarella as head of state, a largely ceremonial post that still requires political acumen to steer Italy through its frequent political crises.
The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Roberto Fico, opened the first round of voting with instructions to the Grand Electors to use hand sanitizers before and after using the pencil provided to write down their choice for president.
But with any agreement on a candidate possibly days away, many lawmakers were expected to cast blank ballots Monday. During the first three rounds, an absolute majority of 672 votes is necessary to win. Starting with the fourth round expected Thursday, a simple majority of 505 votes clinches victory.
Neither of Parliament's two main blocs, the center-right and the center-left, have enough votes for a simple majority, meaning parties are scrambling to reach a consensus as well as win pledges of support from about 90 electors not aligned with either bloc.
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"The process will take some days," said Liguria Gov. Giovanni Toti, who leads a small center-right party. "The center-right will start off from their point of view, the center-left will offer their proposals."
Results of the first round weren't expected to be known until late Monday evening.
As part of covid-19 safety protocols, traditional voting booths were replaced by easier to sanitize pass-through door-less structures. When electors finished voting, they deposited their ballots in an ornate round container.
By special arrangement, a good dozen electors who have covid-19 were allowed to cast their ballots at a parking lot drive-in behind Parliament. The other electors have to be either vaccinated, recently recovered from the illness or test negative.
One anti-vaccine lawmaker, Sara Cunial, refused to take a covid-19 test and was not allowed to vote. Cunial, who had earlier been expelled for her anti-science views from the populist 5-Star Movement and now has no party allegiance, said she would file an official protest, Italian media reported.
The game opened wider after three-time ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi withdrew his controversial candidacy on Saturday. Berlusconi, 85, has been undergoing tests at a hospital in Milan, his office confirmed Sunday.
Premier Mario Draghi has signaled his willingness to be elected to the post, but support from parties in the broad pandemic coalition are split over concerns that his move from head of government to head of state could trigger an early election before the scheduled time of spring 2023.
Berlusconi and his ally Matteo Salvini, the right-wing League leader, oppose Draghi's candidacy, largely worried that a Draghi move to the Quirinal presidential palace could trigger an early election.
But Giorgia Meloni, whose far-right Brothers of Italy is the only main party not in Draghi's government, has been eager for an early election and might not oppose a Draghi presidency.
The 5-Star Movement, Parliament's largest party, is split, because Draghi came to power when Mattarella last year tapped him to replace Premier Giuseppe Conte, their leader.
The Democratic Party would like to see Draghi in the job.
It is reportedly working with other parties to come up with a premier candidate to allow the current government to continue without a new election.
A former central banker and former head of the European Central Bank, Draghi helped Italy secure billions in European Union funding to relaunch the economy in what was Europe's first pandemic epicenter.
Draghi has said his role is largely complete, but some want him to stay on to reassure the EU that the funds will be properly spent.
Senator Emma Bonino casts her ballot during the first round of votes in the Italian parliament, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. The first round of voting for Italy’s next president opens Monday without a clear slate of candidates. Political parties held internal meetings over the weekend, but were keeping the names of possible candidates close to their vests. ( Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)
A view of the new voting booths compliant with anti-covid precautions during the first round of votes in the Italian parliament, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. The first round of voting for Italy’s next president opens Monday without a clear slate of candidates. Political parties held internal meetings over the weekend, but were keeping the names of possible candidates close to their vests. ( Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)
FILE - A Courassier presidential guard is silhouetted in the courtyard of Rome's Quirinale presidential palace, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019. The first round of voting for Italy's next president opens Monday without a clear slate of candidates following three-time ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi's reluctant withdrawal. (AP Photo/ Andrew Medichini, File)
People enter a special drive-thru voting area set up outside Montecitorio parliament building for electors positive to COVID-19 or in quarantine, in Rome, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. The first round of voting for Italy's next president opens Monday without a clear slate of candidates. Italy's lawmakers and a smaller group of special regional representatives are set to vote for a successor to Sergio Mattarella as Italy's head of state. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
A ballot is being cast during the first round of votes in the Italian parliament, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. The first round of voting for Italy’s next president opens Monday without a clear slate of candidates. As part of COVID-19 safety protocols, traditional voting booths, with drapery, designed for secrecy, were replaced by easier to clean pass-through door-less structures. When the electors, starting with infirmed lawmakers and senators-for-life, finished voting, they deposited ballots in an ornate round container, affectionately dubbed “the salad bowl.” (Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)
Former leader of the Northern League party, Umberto Bossi, casts his ballot during the first round of votes in the Italian parliament, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. The first round of voting for Italy’s next president opens Monday without a clear slate of candidates following three-time ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s reluctant withdrawal. The situation that is likely to persist until Thursday. Italy’s lawmakers and special regional representatives are set to vote for a successor to Sergio Mattarella as Italy’s head of state. ( Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)
A medical staff member walks past the entrance of a special drive-thru voting area set up outside Montecitorio palace for electors positive to COVID-19 or in quarantine, in Rome, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. The first round of voting for Italy's next president opens Monday without a clear slate of candidates. Italy's lawmakers and a smaller group of special regional representatives are set to vote for a successor to Sergio Mattarella as Italy's head of state, a largely ceremonial post that still requires political acumen and constitutional knowledge to steer Italy through its frequent political crises. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
A view of the new voting booths compliant with anti-covid precautions during the first round of votes in the Italian parliament, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. The first round of voting for Italy’s next president opens Monday without a clear slate of candidates. Political parties held internal meetings over the weekend, but were keeping the names of possible candidates close to their vests. ( Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)
President of the Italian Senate Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, second left, and President of the Chamber of Deputies, Roberto Fico, preside over the first round of votes for Italy’s next president, at the Italian parliament, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. The first round of voting for Italy’s next president opens Monday without a clear slate of candidates following three-time ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s reluctant withdrawal. The situation that is likely to persist until Thursday. Italy’s lawmakers and special regional representatives are set to vote for a successor to Sergio Mattarella as Italy’s head of state. ( Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)