Italy's Prime Minister-designate Mario Monti meets the journalists at the Senate, in Rome, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011. Monti says he is ready to present his new government to the president on Wednesday after winning wide backing from political, business and union leaders. Monti expressed his "serenity" and "conviction" in Italy's ability to overcome the difficult phase. He told reporters Tuesday evening that he had received assurances from various parties that they would endure sacrifices for the greater good of the country. The economics professor tapped to head Italy's next government has been holding intense talks for two days, seeking support for his mission to steer the eurozone's third-largest economy through its debt crisis. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Italy's Prime Minister-designate Mario Monti meets the journalists at the Senate, in Rome, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011. Monti says he is ready to present his new government to the president on Wednesday after winning wide backing from political, business and union leaders. Monti expressed his "serenity" and "conviction" in Italy's ability to overcome the difficult phase. He told reporters Tuesday evening that he had received assurances from various parties that they would endure sacrifices for the greater good of the country. The economics professor tapped to head Italy's next government has been holding intense talks for two days, seeking support for his mission to steer the eurozone's third-largest economy through its debt crisis. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Italy's premier-designate Mario Monti speaks to the media after finishing his meetings with Italian political leaders and civil society organizations' representatives at the Senate, in Rome, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011. Monti will submit his list for a new government to the Italian president Giorgio Napolitano on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Italy's premier-designate Mario Monti speaks to the media after finishing his meetings with Italian political leaders and civil society organizations' representatives at the Senate, in Rome, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011. Monti will submit his list for a new government to the Italian president Giorgio Napolitano on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Italy's premier-designate Mario Monti speaks to the media after finishing his meetings with Italian political leaders and civil society organizations' representatives at the Senate, in Rome, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011. Monti will submit his list for a new government to the Italian president Giorgio Napolitano on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Italy's premier-designate Mario Monti speaks to the media after finishing his meetings with Italian political leaders and organizations' representatives at the Senate, in Rome, Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011. Monti will propose the new government to the Italian president Giorgio napolitano on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
ROME (AP) ? Prime Minister-designate Mario Monti of Italy said Tuesday he is ready to present his new government to the president after winning wide backing ? and important pledges of sacrifices ? from political, business and union leaders during two days of intense consultations.
Monti said he still has to put the final touches on his Cabinet and economic program, which he will outline to President Giorgio Napolitano on Wednesday. His government must receive votes of confidence in both houses of Parliament, expected this week, to take office and begin the task of steering the eurozone's third-largest economy through its debt crisis.
Monti expressed his "serenity" and "conviction" in Italy's ability to overcome the difficult phase in its history.
"I was impressed by the sense of responsibility and willingness to back social growth," Monti said. "Everyone offered concrete contributions of possible partial sacrifices in exchange for a more general positive outcome."
Monti, a respected economist and former European commissioner, is under pressure to quickly reassure financial markets that Italy will avoid a default that could tear apart the 17 countries that use the euro currency and push the global economy back into recession. The European Union and the European Central Bank have outlined measures Italy must take ? many of them reforms blocked in the past by special interests.
Monti, 68, has already shown his determination to press through deep reforms by making it clear he intends to serve until regularly scheduled elections in 2013, rejecting calls for an early vote.
On Tuesday, after rounds of meetings, Monti garnered support from the center-left Democratic Party, former premier Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom party and the Confindustria, a powerful business lobby.
"We strongly support the birth of this government because for us it is the last chance to regain credibility," Confindustria leader Emma Marcegaglia said.
Union leader Raffaele Bonanni said Monti was close to completing his Cabinet at the time of their meeting Tuesday afternoon.
"Monti told us that he has reached an agreement with the main political forces that will give him a consistent parliamentary majority that will support him and he will very quickly be in a position to present the list of ministers," said Bonanni, leader of the powerful CISL union.
Despite reports of progress, European markets closed lower Tuesday as investors worried that politicians might pull their support in the future if austerity measures proved unpalatable.
On Wall Street, stock indexes wavered between small gains and losses as investors considered another spike in Italy's main borrowing rate against an increase in U.S. retail spending.
The yield on Italy's 10-year bonds jumped again to 6.94 percent. Last week's spike above 7 percent ? a level considered unsustainable in the long term ? raised fears Italy would eventually need a bailout like Greece, Ireland and Portugal.
But a financial debacle in Italy raises a whole new set of problems because the country is considered too big for Europe to bail out.
Monti was asked to form a government Sunday after Berlusconi resigned amid weeks of market turmoil over Italy's stagnant growth and high public debt, which at ?1.9 trillion ($2.6 trillion) is nearly 120 percent of GDP.
Many of those debts are coming due soon, with Italy having to roll over more than ?300 billion ($410 billion) of its debts next year alone.
Monti met Tuesday with the head of the Democratic Party and Angelino Alfano, leader of the Peoples of Freedom party.
"We think, in light of the facts and after this latest conversation, that Professor Monti's attempts are destined to turn out well," Alfano told reporters afterward.
Previously, his party had conditioned its support on the shape of Monti's Cabinet, his government agenda and the duration of his term.
Pierluigi Bersani, head of the Democratic Party, pledged support and placed no timeframe on Monti's tenure.
Only the Northern League, Berlusconi's allies, have refused to support his government. They want early elections this spring, something Monti has rejected.
The EU, meanwhile, says said new measures will be necessary for Italy to balance its budget as promised by 2013. The eurozone avoided contracting in the third quarter, thanks mainly to Germany and France, but is widely expected to fall into recession imminently as a result of its raging debt crisis.
Monti says Italians will have to make some sacrifices to get through the crisis but "not tears and blood."
___
Barry reported from Milan. Patricia Thomas contributed to this report.
Associated Pressmartin luther king memorial walking dead season 2 walking dead season 2 saving private ryan world series tickets world series tickets nelson cruz
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.