Mario Monti was handed the task last night of forming an emergency government led by technocrats as Italy’s head of state raced to win broad political consensus before financial markets opened on Monday.
Giorgio Napolitano, the 86-year-old president, who has been instrumental in guiding Italy through its political crisis, formally asked the unelected Mr Monti to take charge less than 24 hours after Silvio Berlusconi resigned as prime minister after parliament’s approval of some reforms demanded by the EU.
Mr Monti, a former European commissioner, and his as yet unnamed cabinet – expected to be dominated by technocrats all chosen from outside parliament – could be sworn in by Wednesday and then seek a formal vote of confidence in both chambers.