Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Mario Monti to unveil new Italy government

Mario Monti speaks to journalists in Rome - 15 November 2011 Mr Monti has managed to pull together a government in just two days
Italy's new government is to be unveiled after two days of intense negotiations by Prime Minister-designate Mario Monti.
Mr Monti is to meet President Giorgio Napolitano to formally tell him that a government can be formed.
He will go with a list of cabinet ministers, expected to be technocrats, already drawn up, Italian media report.
Mr Monti has sought to reassure markets that Italy will make sacrifices to overcome its debt crisis.
"I would like to confirm right now my absolute serenity and conviction in our country's ability to overcome this difficult phase," Mr Monti told journalists late on Tuesday, after meeting with political parties, unions and employers.
He declined to give details on the make-up of his government but said: "I can reassure you that in the next few hours, I will fine-tune precisely the various aspects of a well-defined picture, and that tomorrow morning I will be able to present the conclusions of this work to the president."
Mr Monti has been under pressure to put together a government that can cut down Italy's 1.9tn euros ($2.6tn; £1.6tn) of public debt and restore economic growth.
Italy's cost of borrowing rose again past 7% during trading on Tuesday amid ongoing nervousness about its high level of debt.

Analysis

Crucially, the largest faction, the PDL - loyal to Silvio Berlusconi - has backed the Monti plan.
Mr Berlusconi continues to wield considerable influence in both houses of parliament. And rather ominously for Mr Monti, he is reported as having said that he may decide to "pull the plug" if he does not like what the new administration does.
But for now - and at least in public - the left, the centre and much of the right of the political spectrum here is going along with idea of installing what will be an unelected prime minister.
It is still not clear whether the new ministerial team will be made up solely of technocrats, or will include politicians as well.
Mr Monti is expected to present both his cabinet and his programme for government to parliament by the end of the week. And he will only be able to begin his work once it endorses both.
He has talked about the nation needing to be prepared to make sacrifices. And if he does intend to drive through a major, painful austerity programme it will be important for him to be able to show that he has substantial backing in parliament.


Mr Monti has the backing of the main political parties but he still needs approval from both houses of parliament before he can take office and push through tougher austerity measures.
It is not clear if his cabinet will include politicians or consist entirely of technocrats such as himself.
Only one party, the right-wing Northern League, says it will withhold its support.
Mr Monti, a former EU commissioner, has said he will "act with urgency" to address Italy's deep-rooted economic problems.
He also intends to remain in office until the end of the current legislature - 2013.
But he has not yet revealed details of the economic reforms he might try to implement.
He was appointed on Sunday after emergency austerity measures were passed by parliament and former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi resigned, having lost his parliamentary majority last week.
Sensing continuing uncertainty, bond traders drove Italy's cost of borrowing past 7% again on Tuesday, the level at which Greece, Ireland and Portugal were forced to accept bailouts.
The Italian bond rate reached a record of 7.48% last week, draining investor confidence and hastening Mr Berlusconi's departure.


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