Mario Monti to Lead Italy's New Government

 　　Italian Prime Minister-designate Mario Monti, a former top EU commissioner¹, has been asked by the country's president to form a new government.  The move comes a day after Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's resignation, following international financial concerns about the Italian economy.

　　After at least 17 meetings with senior politicians on Sunday, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano asked Mario Monti to form a new government.

　　The former EU commissioner said he would fight to grow the country's economy and rebuild pride in Italy. "I intend to fulfill² this task with a great sense of responsibility and service toward our country,” he said.  “In a moment of particular difficulty for Italy, in a turbulent situation for Europe and the world," he added, "the country needs to meet the challenge," he said.

　　Former coalition³ partners, the Northern League Party, have refused to back Mr. Monti as prime minister, instead calling for early elections.  Analysts⁵ say it is a sign that prime minister-designate faces a tough challenge in implementing⁶ a major austerity package that was approved by parliament in the past week to reduce Italy's huge public debt.

　　The naming of Mario Monti as Italy's new prime minister came less than 24 hours after Silvio Berlusconi’s resignation, which was cheered on the streets of Rome.

　　Italy’s borrowing costs soared last week and investors⁷ made it clear they wanted Mr. Berlusconi out of office.  He addressed the nation on television on Sunday. "Italy is among the founders⁸ of the European Union," he said.  "We will be at Italy's service, as always.  To those who celebrated⁹, to salute¹⁰ what they call my exit from the scene, I want to say very clearly, I will redouble my efforts in parliament and institutions to renew Italy," he said.

　　The new cabinet is expected to be announced on Monday.  And analysts say it faces a daunting¹¹ challenge.  Italy’s government debt is about 120 percent of the country's gross domestic product.  And Italy's economic growth has been nearly stagnant¹² for a decade and a half.

　　Political analyst⁴ Claudio Borghi says Italy’s problems are too great for the new government to solve by itself. “One should think, ‘Is it a problem of Italy or is it a problem of the architecture of the euro debt that has to be changed, deeply?’  Because Italy, of course, can need a lot of reforms.  But it’s like if someone had a heart attack.  So he has a heart attack and people start to complain that he’s fat, that he has to do a diet, that he has to go to the gym.  It is true.  We have to do a diet; we have to go to the gym.  But at the moment, it is the heart attack that matters and we are not going to change it with reforms," he said.

　　Investors will be watching the financial markets this week for reaction to how Mr. Monti addresses Italy's economic situation.

1 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

2 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

3 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

4 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

7 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

8 founders   

n.创始人( founder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
• The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句

9 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

10 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。

11 daunting   

adj.使人畏缩的

参考例句：

• They were faced with the daunting task of restoring the house.他们面临着修复房子的艰巨任务。
• Starting a new job can be a daunting prospect.开始一项新工作有时会让人望而却步。

12 stagnant   

adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的

参考例句：

• Due to low investment,industrial output has remained stagnant.由于投资少，工业生产一直停滞不前。
• Their national economy is stagnant.他们的国家经济停滞不前。