11/12/2012 15:31
Silvio Berlusconi launches attack on Mario Monti
Italy's former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has launched a pre-election attack on his successor, Mario Monti, saying the country is now worse off.
BBC told that Berlusconi accused Mr Monti him of following policies which benefited Berlin, saying Germany had lowered its own borrowing costs at the expense of other states.
Mr Monti is due to resign after Mr Berlusconi's party withdrew its support for his government on Thursday.
Mr Berlusconi will run in the February election, but Mr Monti has not decided.
There has been speculation that Mr Monti could run in the election, by forming a new party or joining forces with a centrist grouping; or, that he could run for president when the job becomes vacant next year.
It is the sixth election campaign for Mr Berlusconi, leader of the conservative People of Freedom party, who is now 76.
The sudden political uncertainty in Italy, the third-biggest economy in the eurozone, has unsettled financial markets.