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| Italy: PM Mario Monti wins second confidence vote | Italy: PM Mario Monti wins second confidence vote |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The technocratic government of Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has won a crucial confidence vote in the lower house of parliament. | The technocratic government of Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has won a crucial confidence vote in the lower house of parliament. |
| MPs voted 556 to 61 to endorse the new government's programme after Mr Monti asked to be allowed to continue in office until new elections in 2013. | MPs voted 556 to 61 to endorse the new government's programme after Mr Monti asked to be allowed to continue in office until new elections in 2013. |
| Mr Monti's powerful predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi, said he would back the new cabinet staying in office until then. | Mr Monti's powerful predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi, said he would back the new cabinet staying in office until then. |
| The Senate, or upper house, endorsed the new programme on Thursday. | The Senate, or upper house, endorsed the new programme on Thursday. |
| Mr Monti said he would meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy next week. | Mr Monti said he would meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy next week. |
| He has promised to fight tax evasion and reform pensions to bring down Italy's debt. | He has promised to fight tax evasion and reform pensions to bring down Italy's debt. |
| He is under considerable pressure to act quickly after Italy's borrowing costs again reached unsustainable levels, despite dropping to safer territory early this week following his appointment. | He is under considerable pressure to act quickly after Italy's borrowing costs again reached unsustainable levels, despite dropping to safer territory early this week following his appointment. |
| Mr Monti was sworn in on Sunday to lead a government of experts - including fellow professors, bankers and businessmen - after the country's worsening financial crisis forced out Mr Berlusconi. | Mr Monti was sworn in on Sunday to lead a government of experts - including fellow professors, bankers and businessmen - after the country's worsening financial crisis forced out Mr Berlusconi. |
| Monti appeal | Monti appeal |
| Addressing MPs, Mr Monti urged them not to "pull the plug" on his government before the next scheduled elections, no matter how politically painful the measures in his plan to spur growth and cut debt. | Addressing MPs, Mr Monti urged them not to "pull the plug" on his government before the next scheduled elections, no matter how politically painful the measures in his plan to spur growth and cut debt. |
| So far, generally, Mr Monti has been well received. | So far, generally, Mr Monti has been well received. |
| His measured, thoughtful, tactful approach comes in stark contrast to the style of his predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi. And to many Italians, the change of tone comes as a huge relief. | His measured, thoughtful, tactful approach comes in stark contrast to the style of his predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi. And to many Italians, the change of tone comes as a huge relief. |
| Mr Monti has made some clever opening moves. In setting out his austerity programme before parliament he's talked only in the broadest terms. There have been no details of any step that might have provoked major opposition right from the outset. | |
| Far from frightening people, much of what he said would have been widely welcomed. He said his reforms would aim to make Italy fairer. He said there would be more jobs for women and the young, and that tax evaders would be hunted down. | Far from frightening people, much of what he said would have been widely welcomed. He said his reforms would aim to make Italy fairer. He said there would be more jobs for women and the young, and that tax evaders would be hunted down. |
| Certainly some people are uneasy that their country is now led by a completely unelected administration. | Certainly some people are uneasy that their country is now led by a completely unelected administration. |
| One student at yesterday's demonstration in Rome spoke for many around him when he demanded the right to be able to vote for his government. | One student at yesterday's demonstration in Rome spoke for many around him when he demanded the right to be able to vote for his government. |
| But at the same time, there is very little faith in the country's professional political class. | But at the same time, there is very little faith in the country's professional political class. |
| And for the moment at least the polls suggest that the great majority of Italians are ready to give Mr Monti and his team of experts a chance. | And for the moment at least the polls suggest that the great majority of Italians are ready to give Mr Monti and his team of experts a chance. |
| Mr Berlusconi, who retains substantial support in parliament, had reportedly said he would bring down the new government if he did not like the path it took. | Mr Berlusconi, who retains substantial support in parliament, had reportedly said he would bring down the new government if he did not like the path it took. |
| However on Friday, he told reporters: "I think this government will operate in a way that serves the country for the whole remaining period." | However on Friday, he told reporters: "I think this government will operate in a way that serves the country for the whole remaining period." |
| On Thursday, the government won the vote in the upper house of parliament easily, by 281 votes to 25. | On Thursday, the government won the vote in the upper house of parliament easily, by 281 votes to 25. |
| Addressing the senators, Mr Monti promised to respect Italy's timetable to balance its budget by 2013 and reduce its debt, but said austerity measures would be balanced by economic growth and social fairness. | Addressing the senators, Mr Monti promised to respect Italy's timetable to balance its budget by 2013 and reduce its debt, but said austerity measures would be balanced by economic growth and social fairness. |
| "The future of the euro also depends on what Italy will do in the next few weeks," the former EU commissioner said before the vote. | "The future of the euro also depends on what Italy will do in the next few weeks," the former EU commissioner said before the vote. |
| Mr Monti said he intended to overhaul the pension system which he said "has large disparities in treatment and unjustified privileges for certain sectors". | Mr Monti said he intended to overhaul the pension system which he said "has large disparities in treatment and unjustified privileges for certain sectors". |
| He also said there would be a crackdown on tax evasion and changes to the taxation system. | He also said there would be a crackdown on tax evasion and changes to the taxation system. |
| He said the absence of a locally gathered property tax on houses classed as first homes was an Italian "anomaly". The tax - known in Italy as the ICI tax - was abolished under Mr Berlusconi. | He said the absence of a locally gathered property tax on houses classed as first homes was an Italian "anomaly". The tax - known in Italy as the ICI tax - was abolished under Mr Berlusconi. |
| He added that his government would introduce incentives for companies to employ more women and young people. | He added that his government would introduce incentives for companies to employ more women and young people. |
| "If we fail, if we don't carry out the necessary reforms, we will also be subjected to much harsher conditions," Mr Monti said. | "If we fail, if we don't carry out the necessary reforms, we will also be subjected to much harsher conditions," Mr Monti said. |
| He said economic growth would also involve a crackdown on the Mafia. | He said economic growth would also involve a crackdown on the Mafia. |
| But the unelected leader has already faced widespread protests, by people angry at growing unemployment and further austerity. | But the unelected leader has already faced widespread protests, by people angry at growing unemployment and further austerity. |
| Who's who in the new government | Who's who in the new government |
| Defence minster (not pictured): Giampaolo Di Paola, head of Nato's military committee since June 2008.Foreign minister (not pictured): Giulio Terzi Di Santagata, experienced diplomat, no clear political leanings. | Defence minster (not pictured): Giampaolo Di Paola, head of Nato's military committee since June 2008.Foreign minister (not pictured): Giulio Terzi Di Santagata, experienced diplomat, no clear political leanings. |