Unions test Rome’s resolve on budget

Article reported that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his government faced its first real taste of public resistance to his economic austerity package on the 6 September 2011 when Italy’s main trade union federation staged nationwide strikes as the Italian parliament began debating an emergency budget.

The prospect of mass protests and pressure from panicky markets fuelled a sense of urgency in the centre-right government, which was hoping to pass the budget as quickly as possible.

Deutsche Welle, 6.9.11: Italians go on strike ahead of Senate debate on controversial cuts http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15366769,00.html

ESO: Background information: Outcry over Berlusconi budget reversal http://www.europeansources.info/record/outcry-over-berlusconi-budget-reversal-italy-near-to-completing-austerity-deal/

EurActiv, 6.9.11: Italy under market pressure as austerity plan falters http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/italy-market-pressure-austerity-plan-dithers-news-507295

BBC News, 6.9.11: Italians launch general strike against austerity http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14798534

Il Sole-24 Ore, 6.9.11: ECB in the Italian trap (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/918861-ecb-italian-trap

EUObserver, 7.9.11: Mass strikes, protests hit Italy, Spain over EU-imposed austerity http://euobserver.com/851/113546

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