If Silvio Berlusconi and Italy's new centre-right coalition
take power they will depend heavily on Milanese tax lawyer and
academic Giulio Tremonti to win and maintain the trust of the
financial markets.
Designated by Berlusconi to be Italy's new economic czar following
the centre-right's widely expected election victory on May 13,
Tremonti will have the task of reassuring Italy's European partners
and world capital markets that Italy has no intention of putting
the stability of the single European currency or EU enlargement
plans at risk.
The 53-year-old is justifiably apprehensive. Not only will he have
responsibility over the formerly distinct ministries of the
treasury, budget and finance, he will also have to act as host to
the upcoming G-8 economic summit in Genoa in July before rushing to
prepare the government's budget for the autumn.
The importance of Tremonti in the new Berlusconi government is not
limited to...
