ROME, May 15 (Reuters) – Italy’s economy slid further into
recession in the first three months of this year, the third
consecutive quarterly decline in activity and the steepest
economic contraction for three years, preliminary figures showed
on Tuesday.

The data showing a 0.8 percent contraction underscores the
task facing Prime Minister Mario Monti’s technocrat government,
which is trying to control Italy’s huge public debt – equal to
around 120 percent of output – in the face of a marked recession
and rising borrowing costs.

ROME (Reuters) – The results of last weekend’s local elections in Italy are likely to weaken Prime Minister Mario Monti and make it harder for him to push through unpopular reforms to shield the country from a worsening euro zone debt crisis.

The vote to elect mayors in more than 900 towns and cities saw heavy losses for the centre-right PDL, the largest party backing Monti’s technocrat government, and a surge in support for a protest movement that wants Italy to leave the euro.

ROME, May 8 (Reuters) – Prime Minister Mario Monti on
Tuesday set out Italy’s priorities for growth in the euro zone,
calling for changes in the way budget deficits are calculated
and urging the EU Commission to be more active in setting a
growth agenda.

Speaking at a conference attended by EU Economic and
Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn, Monti said the time for
studying and talking about how to boost the euro zone’s stagnant
economy was over.

ROME (Reuters) – Italian soccer officials and media on Monday condemned Genoa players for bowing to the demands of a group of fans who halted play and ordered them to take off their shirts as the Serie A team lost 4-1 at home to Siena on Sunday.

“Madness in Genoa”, was the headline in sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport, while all newspapers carried articles on the “shame” of Genoa for letting their hardcore “ultras” fans dictate terms to the players.

ROME, April 23 (Reuters) – Italian soccer officials and
media on Monday condemned Genoa players for bowing to the
demands of a group of fans who halted play and ordered them to
take off their shirts as the Serie A team lost 4-1 at home to
Siena on Sunday.

“Madness in Genoa”, was the headline in sports daily
Gazzetta dello Sport, while all newspapers carried articles on
the “shame” of Genoa for letting their hardcore “ultras” fans
dictate terms to the players.

ROME, April 18 (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Mario
Monti declared on Wednesday that reviving economic growth now
had to take priority over belt tightening that could plunge the
country deeper into recession.

Monti delayed by a year his technocrat government’s goal of
balancing the budget in 2013 but market reaction was muted, in
contrast to fellow euro zone struggler Spain which has sent its
borrowing costs soaring by relaxing its deficit targets.

ROME (Reuters) – A populist movement led by a former comedian who calls Prime Minister Mario Monti “Rigor Montis” and dismisses mainstream parties as “political diarrhea” has rattled Italy’s political establishment ahead of next month’s local elections.

The 5-Star Movement, founded by 63-year-old Beppe Grillo in 2009, is successfully exploiting disaffection with politicians who are seen as corrupt and ineffectual, and polls suggest it could be a big winner at mayoral elections on May 6-7.

ROME (Reuters) – When Mario Monti became Italian prime minister last November it seemed he could do no wrong. Borrowing costs fell and praise poured in from commentators, international bodies and political leaders on both sides of the Atlantic.

Now the former economics professor faces falling approval ratings, criticism of his reforms, rising bond yields and a feeling he may not be able to revolutionize Italy after all.

ROME (Reuters) – When Mario Monti became Italian prime minister last November it seemed he could do no wrong. Borrowing costs fell and praise poured in from commentators, international bodies and political leaders on both sides of the Atlantic.

Now the former economics professor faces falling approval ratings, criticism of his reforms, rising bond yields and a feeling he may not be able to revolutionise Italy after all.

ROME, March 27 (Reuters) – Prime Minister Mario Monti’s
labour reform plan is unpopular even among the young Italians it
aims to help, who don’t believe his message that it will create
a fairer, more dynamic jobs market and boost employment.

Italians not only dislike the reform, which makes it easier
for firms to fire and gives them financial incentives to hire
permanent workers rather than temporary staff – but for the
first time they are also starting to dislike Monti’s government.