Italy's third vote for president seen failing with parties at loggerheads

FILE PHOTO: Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi holds a news conference after the government met to discuss stricter coronavirus disease (COVID-19) health pass rules, in Rome, Italy, November 24, 2021. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File Photo

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's political parties will hold a third round of voting on Wednesday to elect a new head of state, but with the parties at loggerheads over a mutually acceptable candidate it is almost certain to be inconclusive.

The race for the prestigious, seven-year role is wide open and neither the centre-right nor the centre-left bloc have enough votes to ram through their candidate, meaning some sort of compromise deal will be needed.