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Italian ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi has threatened to bring down the government of technocrats led by Mario Monti.
Mr Berlusconi said the cabinet was leading Italy into a
"spiral of recession" and that his centre-right PDL party would decide
in the coming days whether it would end its support.It is the largest party in parliament and the move could trigger early polls. Mr Berlusconi was forced to step down last year. His comments come a day after he was found guilty of tax fraud. He is expected to appeal against the four-year-jail sentence - reduced to one - on charges of inflating the price of distribution rights bought by his Mediaset group to avoid paying taxes. Painful cuts Mr Berlusconi was speaking as thousands of protesters marched through Rome in a demonstration against austerity measures launched by the Monti government. 
Demonstrators protested against the Monti government's austerity measures
"We have to recognise the fact that the initiative of this government is a continuation of a spiral of recession for our economy," Mr Berlusconi said. "Together with my collaborators we will decide in the next few days whether it is better to immediately withdraw our confidence in this government or keep it, given the elections that are scheduled." The last election was held in 2008 and the next is due in 2013. Mr Monti was appointed last November, when Italy's credit rating was affected by the eurozone debt crisis. His government has since pushed through tax rises, spending cuts and an overhaul of the pension system.Ex pm Italy threatens |
Labels: International news
