Berlusconi backs Monti 'for good of the country'

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has praised former EU commissioner Mario Monti, seen as the frontrunner to succeed him, and said he would work "in the interests of the country".

1 min read

Published 10 November 2011 8:54pm

Updated 26 August 2013 9:20am

Source: AFP

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Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has praised former EU commissioner Mario Monti, seen as the frontrunner to succeed him, and said he would work "in the interests of the country".

The support came in an official telegram congratulating Monti on his appointment on Wednesday as senator-for-life, a move widely interepreted as an implicit endorsement of the 68-year-old economist.

Italian stocks rose 3.0 percent.

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