Italy's Renzi proposes judge as president, irking Berlusconi

Italy's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi addresses the European Parliament during a debate on the Italian presidency of the EU for the last six months, in Strasbourg January 13, 2015. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler

ROME (Reuters) - Prime Minister Matteo Renzi proposed a senior judge to be Italy's next president on Thursday in a move which may strain his government's alliance on reforms with opposition rival Silvio Berlusconi.

Though a largely ceremonial figure, the Italian head of state wields important powers at times of political instability, a frequent occurrence in Italy, when the president can dissolve parliament, call elections and pick prime ministers.