Berlusconi to quit after parliament passes reforms

[November 12, 2011]  ROME (AP) -- Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi is expected to resign after parliament's lower chamber passes European-demanded reforms, amid continued debate among the embattled leader's allies over who should take his place.

While respected economist Mario Monti is clearly the top choice of Italy's president and international markets to steer the country out of its debt crisis, members of Berlusconi's own Peoples of Liberty Party and allied Northern League remain split.

It isn't clear if the opposition will be enough to scuttle President Giorgio Napolitano's apparent plan to ask Monti to try to form a government once Berlusconi resigns, which is expected Saturday afternoon after the Chamber of Deputies approves economic reforms.

[Associated Press]

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