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Italian MPs approve economic reforms
[Iran Press TV] Italian politicians have adopted the controversial package of austerity measures ahead of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
...current Italian prime minister, known for his plain (for a European politician) speaking and his liking for hookers a third his age or less...
's resignation.
Update: Now former Italian prime minister. Mr. Berlosconi has officially resigned.
On Saturday, the Italian lower house of parliament gave its final approval to a package of austerity measures which was Berlusconi's precondition for resignation, AFP reported.
Good for them. Hopefully it will be enough to start improving the situation.
Berlusconi is expected to announce he is stepping down at a cabinet meeting later on Saturday, and to formally submit his resignation to the Italian head of state.
Good for him. Not that it will be fun for the new guy, whoever it is.
A candidate who will then attempt to form a new government is to be nominated.

The reforms are intended to drastically cut public spending in a bid to reduce the third eurozone economy's EUR1.9 trillion debt.

Berlusconi, 75, has been under immense pressure to step down over a series of scandals and for mishandling the country's economy.

Berlusconi's popularity rating recently slipped to a record low of 22 percent as his team was unable to address the financial crisis and he faced legal battles over bribery, tax fraud and abuse of power.

Italia's debt is 120 percent of its Gross Domestic Product. In August the country passed a 60-billion-euro austerity package to balance the budget by 2013.

There is growing fear among EU leaders that Italia might be drawn into the crisis that has already claimed Greece, Ireland and Portugal.
Posted by: Fred 2011-11-13
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=333304