Post date: Nov 12, 2011 5:30:45 PM
As a parliamentary vote opens way for resignation of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, opposition groups gather outside the Italian parliament to bid him good riddance.
ROME, ITALY (NOVEMBER 12, 2011) (REUTERS) - Italy's parliament gave final approval to a financial stability law on Saturday (November 12), paving the way for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to resign and an emergency government led by former European Commissioner Mario Monti to take the helm.
Outside the Italian parliament, crowds of people opposed to the prime minister gathered outside the parliament were only too happy to say goodbye, including members of the "Purple People", an ad hoc anti-Berlusconi group formed over the Internet.
"We are to make sure Berlusconi resigns because he is the last Mediterranean dictator to resign after Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. Now even Italy will have their dictator resign," said the organiser of the group, Gianfranco Mascia.
Berlusconi failed to secure a majority in a crucial budget vote on Tuesday (November 8), and has promised to resign once parliament passes the law.
He is expected to hand in his resignation to President Giorgio Napolitano later on Saturday.
Former European Commissioner Mario Monti is tipped to be given the task of trying to form a new administration to face a widening financial crisis which has sent Italy's borrowing costs to unmanageable levels.