PM Silvio Berlusconi resigns

(live-PR.com) - President Giorgio Napolitano accepted his offer and is likely to appoint technocrat Mario Monti his successor. Mr Berlusconi lost his majority amid an acute debt crisis that threatens the eurozone. He promised to go once MPs had approved new austerity measures. Crowds celebrated outside the presidential palace, shouting "buffoon" as he entered. Reports say Mr Berlusconi's last journey as Prime

 

Minister was an undignified one.

Police struggled to control a large, hostile crowd which booed and jeered as his convoy swept by, and after his resignation he left by a side exit to avoid the protesters.

Mr Berlusconi is Italy's longest-serving post-war Prime Minister. His premiership has recently been marred by many scandals.

Berlusconi resigns, President Giorgio Napolitano is to move quickly to give a mandate to former European Union commissioner Mario Monti to form a new transition government.Monti's possible nomination has received support from key Italian political and business leaders as well as the international community and investors.

But the nomination is not a done deal because of opposition from Berlusconi's centre-right coalition and another small party.When attempts at forming a government fail, Napolitano would be forced to dissolve parliament and call early elections.