ROME — Former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has declared he is “stepping aside” from frontline politics, revealing he has no intention of running again for his old post. In his first interview since resigning amid turmoil over financial markets in November, Berlusconi spoke to the Financial Times at his Rome residence on a range of subjects, including what he called a media-inspired furor over his “bunga bunga” parties, his anger at “left-wing” magistrates hounding him in the courts and his drive to promote political and judicial reforms. Read full article > >

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Italy’s Berlusconi to quit frontline politics

Technocrat Mario Monti is asked to form a new Italian government to tackle an acute debt crisis which prompted the resignation of Silvio Berlusconi.

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Monti to form next Italy cabinet

ROME — Economist Mario Monti won pledges of support Sunday to lead a new technocratic government to try to rescue Italy from financial disaster, including from Silvio Berlusconi’s conservative party. But Berlusconi’s ally, the Northern League, said it would become an opposition party rather than back Monti. Read full article > >

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Berlusconi’s party backs economist Monti to lead new Italian govt, but Northern League says no

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who resigned Saturday, turned politics in Italy into much more a matter of personality and image than it had been previously.

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Berlusconi Both Drew and Divided Italians

Italy’s leaders seek to cobble together a new caretaker government after PM Silvio Berlusconi resigned, in the midst of an acute debt crisis.

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Italy seeks to build government

Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi resigns, days after losing his majority in the midst of an acute debt crisis threatening the eurozone.

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Berlusconi resigns as Italian PM

ROME — Silvio Berlusconi , who spent nearly two decades atop the world of Italian politics, resigned as prime minister Saturday night after lawmakers rushed through a budget bill seen as the first step toward winning back investor confidence and preventing the collapse of the world’s eighth-largest economy. Read full article > >

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Berlusconi steps down as Italy’s prime minister

Italy’s lower house of parliament is to vote on austerity measures demanded by the European Union, which should pave the way for PM Silvio Berlusconi to resign.

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Last lap for Italy austerity law

ROME — As Silvio Berlusconi sought to explain his decision this week to heed calls to resign in the midst of a mounting debt crisis , the man who ruled Italy for the better part of two decades turned to the words of Il Duce. Berlusconi compared his own sense of betrayal and isolation after being asked to step aside, even by some of his own lieutenants, to musings Benito Mussolini once wrote in letters to a lover. “At a certain point he says: ‘Don’t you understand I don’t count for anything anymore?’ ” Berlusconi told the La Stampa newspaper. “I have felt in the same situation.” Read full article > >

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Berlusconi to leave legacy of playboy politician

ROME — As Silvio Berlusconi sought to explain his decision this week to heed calls to resign in the midst of a mounting debt crisis , the man who ruled Italy for the better part of two decades turned to the words of Il Duce. Berlusconi compared his sense of betrayal and isolation after being asked to step aside, even by some of his lieutenants, to musings Benito Mussolini once wrote in letters to a lover. “At a certain point he says: ‘Don’t you understand I don’t count for anything anymore?’ ” Berlusconi told the La Stampa newspaper. “I have felt in the same situation.” Read full article > >

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Silvio Berlusconi to leave legacy of playboy politician

The Italian senate is to vote on austerity measures demanded by the EU, with a final approval at the weekend enabling PM Silvio Berlusconi to resign.

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Italy to vote on austerity plans

ROME — Under intense pressure to fend off a full-blown debt crisis , Italy’s fractious lawmakers appeared to be coalescing Thursday around an emergency plan that could see Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi step down this weekend to make way for an interim government headed by a political outsider, Mario Monti. Read full article > >

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Italy’s political class struggles for consensus

Italy’s president says Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will step down within days, as the country’s financial crisis deepens.

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Berlusconi to quit ‘within days’

Continue to rise, despite Berlusconi’s exit.

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Italy Bonds Hit Danger Zone

Italy’s cost of borrowing touches a new record, approaching 7%, the day after Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says he will resign once budget reforms are passed.

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Italian debt rate closes in on 7%