Life after Mario?

摘要

It is just over a year since the technocratic Mario Monti took over from the clownish Silvio Berlusconi as prime minister of Italy. He has accomplished much. The public finances look a lot healthier, ten-year bond yields are at two-year lows and structural reforms to the economy have at least been started. Above all, Mr Monti has persuaded Europe and the world to take Italy seriously once again. Yet now the world is starting to worry anew. A general election is due to be held next March. On the basis of current polls, the left looks likely to win, so Mr Monti's most probable successor is the Democratic Party's candidate, Pier Luigi Bersani. Having served in four previous centre-left governments, Mr Bersani has plenty of political experience. But sustaining Italy's recent economic progress will be difficult.