(18 Dec 2012)
December 18, 2012
1. Wide exterior of Italian Senate building
2. Italian flag on Senate building
December 17, 2012
3. Various interiors of Senate
December 12, 2012
4. Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti leaving news conference held by ANFIA (National Association of Automobile Industries)
December 18, 2012
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Massimo Franco, political commentator, Corriere Della Sera newspaper:
"I think that Monti thinks he can be more useful to Italy being prime minister than being president of the republic, that is the core issue. And I think that all this push from Europe and from the Western chancelleries in general encourages him to try to get this post again."
December 12, 2012
6. Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi at news conference for journalist Bruno Vespa's new book
December 18, 2012
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Massimo Franco, political commentator, Corriere Della Sera newspaper:
"The appearance is that Berlusconi is still there, that he covers everything, but actually I think that the Berlusconi season is over, because he failed in the economy."
December 13, 2012
8. Pierluigi Bersani, head of the Italian Democratic Party, at news conference with foreign journalists
December 18, 2012
9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Massimo Franco, Political commentator, Corriere Della Sera newspaper:
"I think that Bersani is quite right to say and to feel that he is going to win elections, the problem is how he is winning them, because I think the alliance with the radical left may create some problems after the victory."
December 18, 2012
10. Wide of various newspaper front pages
11. La Repubblica, with photo of Berlusconi and Maroni, member of the Lega party
12. Front page of Il Manifesto, with photo of Monti and Bersani
13. Wide of guards in front of Senate side entrance
14. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Maria Rizzotti, Senator and member of Berlusconi's People of Liberty party:
"Certainly it is an important vote. The PDL (People of Liberty party) also said it will support and follow through with the approval of the law, so there are no doubts on the outcome of the confidence vote."
15. Change of the guard in front of Senate side entrance
16. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Cosimo Gallo, Senator and member of Berlusconi's People of Liberty party:
"I think that for different kinds of reasons (Monti's) reservations regarding a possible candidacy are many, and that in the end he will not be a candidate."
17. Cutaway of police car
18. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Pasquale Viespoli, Senator and member of Future and Liberty moderate-right party:
"The austerity budget law is a fundamental law, like the old budget law, especially since some issues still have to be solved, such as the stability pact for the local governments."
19. Guard in front of Senate side entrance with people exiting
20. Italian and EU flags on front of Senate side entrance
21. Wide of front of Senate building, Palazzo Madama
STORYLINE:
The Italian Senate is expected to vote on Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti's austerity budget bill on Tuesday evening.
Monti announced recently that he would resign after the approval of the law, which, if modified in the Senate, will have to go back to the Lower Chamber of Parliament for it to be passed.
The economist heads a non-elected government of technocrats that was appointed to put Italy's economy on a more fiscally responsible path.
He is now being urged by some politicians to seek election as the nation's leader in a vote expected in February.
But Franco said he thinks Berlusconi doesn't stand a chance.
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