In Italy, former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi waged a full
frontal attack on technocrat prime minister Mario Monti, Germany, Angela
Merkel and the EU imposed austerity during a 1.5 hours press conference
near Milan.
The problem for Brussels is Berlusconi can force a vote because by withdrawing his support to Monti's government.
The problem for Brussels is Berlusconi can force a vote because by withdrawing his support to Monti's government.
The People of Liberty party needs to consider that "with a no-confidence vote by us, we would determine a situation that would be interpreted in a certain way by the financial markets and would cause early elections," Berlusconi told reporters yesterday near Milan. "We will consider these facts and decide whether to immediately withdraw our support of the government."
Such a step would likely force President Giorgio Napolitano to call early elections, before a vote due by May. It also would probably fan Europe's debt crisis, as Monti's austerity policies have contributed to a decline in Italy's bond yields, with markets more focused on Spain in recent months.
"It's impossible to say what is in Berlusconi's head now, but if he decides to end his support to Monti, early elections become almost inevitable," said Roberto D'Alimonte, a professor of politics at Rome's LUISS University. "Berlusconi would lose the elections anyway, but would likely get more votes thanks to an anti-austerity platform and that would increase his party's bargaining power in the next parliament."
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