Italian President urges to political parties to make realistic proposals before the elections

Rome, January 1: Italy is on the way to hold elections in March this year. In this concern, President Sergio Mattarella on Sunday urged political parties to make realistic proposals to tackle Italy’s problems, especially joblessness.

"The speed of innovation is pressing, leading us into a new era ... Yet, changes must be governed, in order to prevent injustices and new social exclusion," Mattarella said.

The true mission of politics would consist "precisely in the ability to face such innovations and to guide the process of change".

"The responsibility to advance suitable proposals -- convincing and tangible proposals -- is strongly required, given the size of our country's problems," the President stressed.

Although the presidency is largely ceremonial, Mattarella does have the power to pick prime ministers and dissolve parliament, which he did this week to open the way for a March 4 election.

“The duty to make adequate proposals - realistic and concrete ones - is a must given the dimension of the problems our country faces,” Mattarella said during a traditional end-year speech broadcast live on national television.

“Yet again I must underscore that jobs remain the primary and most serious social issue, especially for the young,” he added.

Italy’s economy, the euro zone’s third-biggest, probably grew this year at its fastest rate since 2010, but remains among the most sluggish in Europe. Unemployment remains above 11 percent, while youth joblessness is about 35 percent.