Support from Berlusconi’s party essential
European Commissioner Mario Monti was in frenetic talks with political parties, trade unions and employers on Monday, as he rushes to appoint a largely technocratic cabinet that Italians hope will restore faltering investor confidence in their country’s ability to repay its debt, Reuters reports. Monti is expected to seek a vote of confidence for the new government by Friday. However, the Financial Times writes that Silvio Berlusconi, who resigned from the post of prime minister on Saturday, struck a defiant note, noting that support from his People of Liberty party is essential for Monti to be able to govern. “We are ready to pull the plug,” Berlusconi reportedly said.