European allies watch nervously as Italy’s exit from crisis threatened from political turmoil

Italy’s new parliament meets after deadlock elections

Andreas Solaro/AFP

Newly-elected members of parliament at the first session of the Italian lower house on March 15, 2013 in Rome. Italy’s new parliament met on Friday for the first time since a deadlocked election in February, amid increasing pressure to seek a way out of an impasse. | Democracy, elections and voting at Democracy Chronicles