Italy’s 89-year-old president Giorgio Napolitano has stepped down after almost nine years in office, forcing the prime minister Matteo Renzi into a politically-delicate balancing act to appoint a successor.

Mr Napolitano had always been expected to step down before the end of his second term, explaining two weeks ago that his advanced age had made it increasingly difficult for him to perform the duties of his office.

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In 2013, he had reluctantly agreed to a second term, after a deadlocked election threatened to leave Italy politically adrift.

There has been speculation over who will succeed him in an office which has wide, but loosely-defined powers, ranging from naming prime ministers and vetoing laws to exercising moral persuasion over government policy.

Potential candidates to succeed Mr Napolitano include Romano Prodi, the former prime minister and European Commission president, and former prime minister Giuliano Amato.

Both have been candidates for the presidency in the past.

– with ABC