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    December 16, 2011

Italian Parliament Approves Latest Austerity Plan

   VOA News
   Italian Premier Mario Monti, center, is flanked by Foreign Minister
   Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata, left, during a meeting in Rome, December
   15, 2011.
   Photo: AP
   Italian Premier Mario Monti, center, is flanked by Foreign Minister
   Giulio Terzi di Sant'Agata, left, during a meeting in Rome, December
   15, 2011.

   The Italian government has overwhelmingly won a crucial parliamentary
   vote of confidence Friday over an austerity package intended to help
   the third largest economy in the eurozone get its finances in order.
   The lower house of parliament voted 495-88 in favor of a nearly $40
   billion austerity package Friday, with the upper house voting next
   week.
   Prime Minister Mario Monti's technocratic government has broad support
   in both houses and has pushed through a series of tax hikes, spending
   cuts and pension reform to bring Italy's budget in line by 2013.
   Monti was appointed last month to replace longtime Prime Minister
   Silvio Berlusconi.
   Berlusconi stepped down just before Italy began considering the
   austerity measures to avoid a debt crisis.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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