Main parties in Italy jostle for cabinet places

Italy’s prime minister designate Mario Monti has met with leaders of the two largest parties as he continues to seek enough support to form a lasting government.

The idea is for the new administration to govern until elections in 2013, and Monti wants to agree on terms before holding a confidence vote in parliament on Friday.

Although the government is expected to be made up of mostly non-political technocrats, both the Democratic Party and Berlusconi’s PDL want some form of representation in the cabinet.

The leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (PD) Pier Luigi Bersani said: “We exchanged views concerning the proposed economic programme and structure of the government. I confirmed my party’s intention to support an authoritative government including those with a strong technical background and knowledge.”

“Members of different orientations within the party have expressed doubts. Despite this, there’s still agreement on the proposal for a government of technicians without political personalities, a government connected to the programme agreed upon by Berlusconi,” said Maurizio Gasparri of the PDL.

Not supporting the new administration is the rightwing Northern League who were part of ex-premiere Silvio Berlusconi’s coalition. One of its MPs called the planned government a ‘Franco-German directorate’.

Copyright © 2012 euronews