Italian prime minister steps down

Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/209754.html

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has resigned after 17 years of domination in Italy's political scene, as thousands of people gathered in center of the capital to celebrate his departure.

Berlusconi handed his resignation to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on Saturday night after Italy's lower house of parliament approved a package of austerity measures demanded by the European Union, Reuters reported.

Former European Commissioner Mario Monti is expected to replace Berlusconi.

Berlusconi, 75, has been under immense pressure to step down over a series of scandals as well as for mishandling the country's economy.

Berlusconi's popularity rating recently slipped to a record low of 22 percent as his government was unable to address the financial crisis that has engulfed the eurozone. He also faced legal battles over bribery, tax fraud and abuse of power.

Italy's debt is 120 percent of its gross domestic product. In August the country passed a 60-billion-euro austerity package to balance the budget by 2013.

There is growing fear among the EU leaders that Italy might be drawn into the crisis that has already claimed Greece, Ireland and Portugal.

Italian MP calls for removal of US nukes

Italian opposition lawmaker Pierfelice Zazzera

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/185537.html

Italian opposition lawmaker Pierfelice Zazzera has called on Silvio Berlusconi's government to remove nuclear warheads that have been placed in the country by the US.

Zazzera said Italy was in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by hosting 90 US nuclear warheads and criticized the government for its lack of control over weapons of mass destruction that have been placed on its soil.

The Italian Values opposition party member also criticized the government for disregarding a 1987 vote by which 65 percent of the Italian nation expressed their disapproval of nuclear energy and blasted Berlusconi for turning a blind eye to the extensive radiation risk the country currently faces.

He said some 235 tons of third degree nuclear waste with 90 percent radioactivity were in need of proper disposal in the country.

This is while the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna recommends that nuclear waste with 10 percent radioactivity be disposed in highly specialized storage sites for over three centuries.

Earlier this month, the majority of Italians backed the opposition-proposed referendum which called for banning nuclear power production.

The government worked hard to keep the turnout below 50 percent to be able to scrape the vote, but Italians flocked to the polls to vote in opposition to the government.

With the turnout of 57 percent, over 90 percent voted against the government, since the majority of voters were opponents.