Italy's Monti pledges to head coalition of centrists

ROME, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Italy's caretaker Prime Minister Mario Monti said Friday that he would head a coalition¹ of centrists after meeting a group of business and political moderate figures who have expressed support for his reform program.
Monti told a press conference, at the end of the meeting, that he has "never planned to create a party" but is ready to head a coalition of centrists that will race in the upcoming vote with one single electoral list at the parliament upper chamber², or Senate, and with separate lists at the lower chamber.
Monti said that, being a life senator, he is not going to run for office in parliament in the election, which is set on 24-25 Feb. In Italy, the premier³ is appointed by the president after each election and is usually the leader of the most voted party or coalition.
"I believe that the financial emergency was overcome, but there is another as much serious one, made of youth unemployment and lack of growth," Monti said. He added that he aimed at a "renewal⁴ of Italian politics" centered on strong ethical⁵ values and Europe-oriented policies.
The caretaker premier said he had just met with supporters of what he called the "Agenda Monti for Italy" list, stressing that he would like political and social forces to line up with his ideas.
The over four-hour meeting included Union of the Center (UDC) party leader Pier⁶ Ferdinando Casini, representatives of the Italia Futura movement founded by Ferrari Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, caretaker economic development minister Corrado Passera and international cooperation minister Andrea Riccardi.
Monti handed in his formal resignation on Dec. 21 after 13 months at the helm of an emergency cabinet of technocrats⁷, which has introduced a tough austerity drive to steer⁸ Italy away from the center of the eurozone debt crisis.
Following his step back, the 69-year-old former European Commissioner⁹ announced that he would back those political forces committed to pursue his "agenda" of recommendations for the next government to follow up with his reforms.
Meanwhile Pier Luigi Bersani, whose center-left Democratic Party (PD) has led the opinion polls for months, announced on Friday that the noted¹⁰ anti-mafia prosecutor¹¹ Piero Grasso will be a candidate for the PD in the elections.
"We chose to put the two words 'morality' and 'work' before the legislature and the rule of law as a top priority for our country," Bersani told a press conference.
The participation¹² in the PD of Grasso, who worked on important anti-Mafia cases in the early 1990s, would help drive a "civic¹³ resurgence¹⁴" in scandal-hit politics, the PD head added.
Grasso was the third anti-mafia prosecutor planning to run for office in the next Italian government, following the announcements by prosecutors¹⁵ Antonio Ingroia and Stefano Dambruoso last week.
Former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, who has changed his mind several times on whether to stand for premiership again, has always claimed to be the victim in various legal actions of left-wing prosecutors and judges.
His center-right People of Freedom (PdL) party this month withdrew support to the technocratic¹⁶ government, which was due to serve until April 2013, triggering early resignation. The PdL has increasingly attacked the budget measures carried out by Monti to tackle Italy's debt crisis.
On Friday, the media tycoon¹⁷ said that he could take to the roads of Italy to seek direct contact with his potential electorate¹⁸ if he is forced to reduce the number of his television appearances under the equal time rule in what is likely to be a heated electoral campaign.

1 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。

2 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

3 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

4 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

5 ethical   

adj.伦理的，道德的，合乎道德的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to get the youth to have a high ethical concept.必须使青年具有高度的道德观念。
• It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。

6 pier   

n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱

参考例句：

• The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。
• The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。

7 technocrats   

n.技术专家，专家政治论者( technocrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Few business barons remained. They were replaced by "technocrats," who became the heads of corporations. 企业巨头所剩无几，大多已被“技术专家”所代替，这些人成了公司的领导。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• However, bankers called the technocrats' bluff and proceeded to lend with gusto. 但是，银行家们称技术专家官员不过在虚张声势，并且还会乐观的继续借贷业务。 来自互联网

8 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。

9 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。

10 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

11 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

12 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

13 civic   

adj.城市的，都市的，市民的，公民的

参考例句：

• I feel it is my civic duty to vote.我认为投票选举是我作为公民的义务。
• The civic leaders helped to forward the project.市政府领导者协助促进工程的进展。

14 resurgence   

n.再起，复活，再现

参考例句：

• A resurgence of his grief swept over Nim.悲痛又涌上了尼姆的心头。
• Police say drugs traffickers are behind the resurgence of violence.警方说毒贩是暴力活动重新抬头的罪魁祸首。

15 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

16 technocratic   

adj.由技术专家官员组成的；受技术官僚影响的

参考例句：

• But there is method in Europe's technocratic madness, the official went on. 但欧洲的专家政治论者的愤怒是有原因的，这个位官员接着说道。 来自互联网
• Mr Juppé was floored in part by his contemptuous, technocratic attitude towards union leaders. 朱佩对工会领导蛮横与不屑，是导致他一败涂地的部分原因。 来自互联网

17 tycoon   

n.有钱有势的企业家，大亨

参考例句：

• The tycoon is on the verge of bankruptcy.那名大亨濒临破产的边缘。
• The tycoon has many servants to minister to his needs.那位大亨有很多人服侍他。

18 electorate   

n.全体选民；选区

参考例句：

• The government was responsible to the electorate.政府对全体选民负责。
• He has the backing of almost a quarter of the electorate.他得到了几乎1/4选民的支持。