Italy - Mario Monti wins austerity confidence vote Tax increases, spending cuts & pension reforms

Published on Dec 16, 2011 by Euronews

http://www.euronews.net/ Italy's new government has won a parliamentary confidence vote on its anti-crisis austerity package.

The lower house, as expected, overwhelmingly approved Prime Minister Mario Monti's tax increases, spending cuts and pension reforms. The Senate is also set to back the plan by Christmas.

But public transport workers are not so keen. On Friday they brought buses, trains and underground services to a standstill nationwide to protest moves they say hit ordinary Italians and spare the rich.