Silvio Berlusconi

Positive Monti vows to get down to work

Italy's new prime minister-designate, economist Mario Monti, says he will get to work quickly to try to form a new government, assuring the nation that it can heal its disastrous finances.

Debt and broken promises shatter Berlusconi spell

With a combination of savvy media domination, old-fashioned party politics and a salesman's preternatural charm, Silvio Berlusconi dominated Italy more than anyone since Mussolini. And polarised it.

Monti set to lead Italy

Rome Italy starts forming a new government, with economist Mario Monti tipped as the man to lead the country through its debt crisis.

End of an era as Italy's Berlusconi quits

Nicole Winfield Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi has resigned after parliament's lower chamber passed European-demanded reforms, ending a 17-year political era and setting in motion a transition aimed at bringing...

Super Mario may be the man to save Italy

Nick Squires, London ROME: Mario Monti, nicknamed ''Super Mario'' for his intellectual rigour and impeccable record during a decade as a European Commissioner, could be appointed Italy's new prime minister as early as...

Italy's debt crisis: 10 reasons to be fearful

GREECE and Italy were the cradles of European culture: now they are threatening to drag the European Union to the grave.

The party's over

John Hooper and Nick Squires For Silvio Berlusconi, this week's events must have had a grim air of deja vu. After months of standing by the Prime Minister, his key ally, Umberto Bossi, the mercurial leader of the devolutionist...

IMF chief issues 'lost decade' warning

Karen Kissane LONDON: With European markets in turmoil, the head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, has warned of the risk of a ''lost decade'' for the global economy unless nations act...

Four blueprints for the future

A broader majority Silvio Berlusconi goes, but the right stays in power. His followers tell the President, Giorgio Napolitano, they can assemble a convincing majority in Parliament in alliance with...

Berlusconi's glamour reign coming to an end

Nick Squires, London ROME: Even the showgirls are deserting him now. As Italy buzzed with speculation over whether Silvio Berlusconi would survive the week after dominating Italian politics for 17 years, one of his most...

Third Berlusconi ally jumps ship

Nick Squires Speculation over a Silvio Berlusconi resignation as one of his most loyal supporters quits.

Finance ministers put screws on Greece

David Gow, Jill Treanor EURO ZONE finance ministers have begun a frantic search for new sources of capital to increase the area's main bailout fund to €1 trillion ($1.

Berlusconi on the brink as allies defect

Marco Bertacche MILAN: Silvio Berlusconi's majority is unravelling before a critical parliamentary vote today, with allies pressuring the Italian Prime Minister to step aside after contagion from Europe's sovereign...

Greece 'saved' by PM's exit

Athens George Papandreou will step down to allow the creation of a national unity government.

Berlusconi sits tight as calls to go grow louder

Andrew Davis, Rome Shaken by defections from his government and protests, Italian PM faces his next major test with a budget vote.

Show of disunity does dithering Europe no favour

Larry Elliott The best that could be said for the G20 gathering was that it allowed world leaders to vent their frustration and anger.

Greek PM hangs in as talks fail

Karen Kissane, Cannes Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou narrowly survived a confidence vote yesterday and will now try to form another coalition government.

Confidence in Greece's PM, but not G20

Karen Kissane THE Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou, narrowly survived a confidence vote yesterday and will now try to form another coalition government, a chink of light in an otherwise gloomy European...

Berlusconi faces revolt as MPs desert

Tom Kington Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's resignation has become a question of when, not if as his majority in parliament was thrown into doubt by deserting MPs.