Monti could stand again for Italian PM

Italy’s outgoing prime minister Mario Monti has said that in the upcoming election he would be prepared to run for office again, if there were a political force that adopts his programme of reforms. The economist took over as prime minister in 2011, leading a group of technocrats charged with untangling Italy’s monster debt crisis. At an end of year news conference he said: “I’m not taking sides with anyone personally. I’m much more concerned that the Monti agenda — and I’m sorry that my name is there — serves to make things clearer and is a unifying force. I think if someone wants to use my ideas, as I said, I would not be averse, if they wanted, to be their point of reference.” Monti tendered his resignation on Friday after his budget was approved. He has already reformed pensions, raised taxes and clamped down on tax dodgers. Monti said the classic left-right divide was no longer enough to tackle Italy’s problems.