Mario Monti in talks to run for Italian PM

GlobalPost

Italy's technocrat ruler Mario Monti is being urged to become a legitimate prime minister, the Financial Times reported. Monti said he would step down when his budget is passed, which would trigger an election in February.

Centrist politicians are now encouraging him to run as a candidate in the election, the Financial Times said. They expect an answer from him within a week.

More from GlobalPost: When the BRICs Crumble

Silvio Berlusconi meanwhile is back in campaign mode, accusing Monti today of being "German-centric," NDTV reported.

Monti announced his resignation after Berlusconi's party withdrew support from the government on Thursday, BBC News reported. Monti, who also leads an unelected cabinet of technocrats, said he was confident that a "highly responsible" government would get elected in February, but he would not say if he will run.

"I'm not considering this particular issue at this stage," he told the BBC. 

Monti took the oath of office on Nov. 16 last year and named a cabinet that was almost universally praised, GlobalPost reported last year.

Sign up for our daily newsletter

Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.