Centre-left leader, Pier Luigi Bersani, has backed the front-runner, Franco Marini, as candidate for president.

BBC: Italian MPs fail to choose new president in first vote

Former longtime centrist union leader and ex-Senate president Franco Marini is widely reported to be the consensus choice.

NPR: Italian Lawmakers Pick Country's New President

The most popular candidate, former trade unionist and ex-Senate speaker, Franco Marini, fell well short of the two-thirds majority needed.

BBC: Italian MPs fail to choose new president in first vote

But the Senate speaker, Franco Marini, failed to garner cross-party support for an interim government to change it, because Mr Berlusconi refused to co-operate.

ECONOMIST: An election is called for April 13th-14th

After the resignation of Romano Prodi as Italy's prime minister, the president asked the speaker of the Senate, Franco Marini, to form an interim government.

ECONOMIST: Politics this week

After counting for the first round wrapped up, former trade union leader Franco Marini was in the lead with 521 votes but short of the two-thirds majority, or 672 votes, needed to win the presidency.

CNN: Italy's Parliament votes for new president