Centre leaders endorse Monti agenda
Montezemolo, Casini, Riccardi hold summit
24 December, 15:40
(ANSA) - Rome, December 24 - Centrist Italian business and
political leaders expressed full support for outgoing Italian
Premier Mario Monti's reform agenda after reviewing the document
in a summit on Monday.
The group consisted of Ferrari Chairman Luca de
Montezemolo, Minister of International Cooperation and
Integration Andrea Riccardi - a member of Premier Mario Monti's
technical cabinet and the founder of the Sant'Egidio Catholic
activist and crisis-resolution association - and the head of the
small centrist Catholic UDC party, Pier Ferdinando Casini.The leaders of the "new centre" had already expressed full support for Monti's Sunday speech, in which the technocrat premier delivered a two-hour account of progress made over his tenure, and stated his intention to promote a platform rather than his own candidacy - without ruling out standing if enough support was mustered - in upcoming elections slated for the end of February.
photo: Montezemolo (right) and Casini
