Italy’s PM Monti accused of election plot

Silvio Berlusconi has accused Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti of plotting with the left in his centrist alliance’s bid to win Italy’s national election in February.

According to AFP, the former Italian premier told reporters in Rome on Saturday “This grouping has been formed to favor the left – also the similarities with the left’s program points in this direction.”
The 76-year-old billionaire also stated that Monti’s aim is to continue his austerity agenda of tax hikes and spending cuts.
Later in the day, Pier Ferdinando Casini, the head of the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats (UDC), which cooperates with Monti, denied the accusations.
Casini said “Our initiative was not born with the support of the Democratic Party. It has not been started with a predetermined alliance… until election day what’s important is aiming for the majority.”
On Friday, Monti said he wanted to unite a broad coalition of factions around an agenda, which is aimed at tackling the country’s economic crisis.