Italy's left-leaning opposition parties and the coalition parties within Silvio Berlusconi's government this week stepped up efforts to quell bitter feuds and form united fronts ahead of general elections expected by next May.

The left, which holds a strong lead in recent opinion polls, seems to have made the most strides. Romano Prodi, the former European Commission president, secured agreement this week on a US-style primary election in October that will most likely result in his selection as leader of the left. The parties of the left also agreed to finalise a common policy platform by December.