Back to the future with Berlusconi the biggest winner
Remember the Italy elections? They are still going on and the bloke who had never been elected in the first place is still Prime Minister.
Silvio back? Italy is back to doing what it does best
Italian politics is turbulent at the best of times, but with a general election around the corner could Silvio Berlusconi be on the rise?
Another comeback for Silvio Berlusconi? Surely not…
Inconceivable as it may seem to be a candidate in an election while facing such serious charges, this is Italy and this is Berlusconi.
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PM arrives for meeting with Italian counterpart
The Prime Minister has arrived in Rome for a meeting with his Italian counterpart Mario Monti.
Number 10 says they will discuss EU issues and foreign affairs.
Another comeback for Silvio Berlusconi? Surely not…
Inconceivable as it may seem to be a candidate in an election while facing such serious charges, this is Italy and this is Berlusconi.
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Stakes are high for Italy's Prime Minister
Ahead of today's EU summit, the Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said that members had "one week to save the euro". But he may also have been speaking about his political career.
Mr Monti came to power in the midst of the Euro crisis and agreed to head an uneasy coalition charged with restoring calm to the economy. He still has the confidence of enough coalition members, but for how much longer?
He is facing increasing pressure from coalition partners to secure measures in Europe that will lower Italy's borrowing costs and stimulate growth in the indebted country.
Some of them also have their eyes on the next election, which must be held by next Spring.
Italy's 'Super Mario' gets vital confidence vote
Italy's technocrat Prime Minister Mario Monti has won the final two confidence votes he needs to accelarate his labour reform bill. He would have had to resign had he lost one of them.
Mr Monti is heading an uneasy coalition of technocrats who have pledged to put Italy's public finances back on an even keel. The labour reforms - which will make it easier to fire employees and broaden unemployment benefits - are considered vital to this plan.
Mr Monti's popularity has dropped to 33 percent, less than half the 71 percent he had when he took office last November hailed as 'Super Mario'.