The Italian Parliament on Wednesday elected the center-left candidate ¡ª an 80-year-old former Communist ¡ª as the country's president, paving the way for a Romano Prodi government, an unofficial count indicated.

Giorgio Napolitano, a widely respected senator for life, was elected during the fourth round of voting by some 1,000 electors ¡ª lawmakers from the two houses of parliament and regional representatives. Unofficial tallies showed he had garnered more than the minimum 505 votes necessary for victory, according to Italian news agencies.