‘Monty ready to make comeback as premier’
24 Dec 2012 12:48 AM GMT
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said on Sunday he could govern the country again as head of a pro-reform coalition and attacked his predecessor Silvio Berlusconi ahead of a general election in February.
‘If one or more political forces adhere to my agenda and put forward the idea of proposing me for the post of premier, I would weigh the option,’ the outgoing premier said at a news conference following his resignation on Friday.
Monti cannot officially be on the ballot for the February 24-25 vote as he is already a senator-for-life but under Italy's electoral system he could be asked to join the government, even as prime minister, by whoever wins. ‘I am ready to give my approval, my encouragement and, if called to, my leadership’ to those parties who get behind the reforms, said the 69-year-old Monti, a former economics professor and high-flying European commissioner. Monti outlined an economic programme to ‘change Italy and reform Europe’, saying the main point was not to turn the clock back on austerity measures.
‘If one or more political forces adhere to my agenda and put forward the idea of proposing me for the post of premier, I would weigh the option,’ the outgoing premier said at a news conference following his resignation on Friday.
Monti cannot officially be on the ballot for the February 24-25 vote as he is already a senator-for-life but under Italy's electoral system he could be asked to join the government, even as prime minister, by whoever wins. ‘I am ready to give my approval, my encouragement and, if called to, my leadership’ to those parties who get behind the reforms, said the 69-year-old Monti, a former economics professor and high-flying European commissioner. Monti outlined an economic programme to ‘change Italy and reform Europe’, saying the main point was not to turn the clock back on austerity measures.
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