New Italian PM Monti Receives Split Decision From Countrymen
Two in Three Worse Off Financially Than Five Years Ago
Italy's new Prime Minister Mario Monti, installed as a technocrat after the fall of his colorful predecessor Silvio Berlusconi, is receiving a mixed review of his job performance by Italians. In a new poll by the US-based JZ Analytics, Monti's positive job rating is 45%, while his negative rating is 48%.
Monti's highest ratings come from Berlusconi's opposition Democratic Party (72%), university graduates (57%), and voters earning over the equivalent of $25,000 per year (especially those earning over $55,000 at 76%). His lowest approval ratings are received from Berlusconi's People of Freedom Party supporters (43%), non-university graduates (39%), Italians earning less than the equivalent of $15,000 (29%) and $15,000-$25,000 (40%).
The JZ Analytics Poll was conducted online among 2000 Italians from February 13-15. It has a margin-of-sampling error of +/-2.2 percentage points.
In other findings:
- if a new Italian election were held today, the winner would be "none of the above" in a choice between favoring governing coalitions of the Right or the Left. The Left wins the support of 24% of those polled to the Right's 18% -- but "Neither" gets 39% and 19% are not sure.
- 67% say that regarding their personal finances, they are worse off than they were five years ago, while 10% are better off, and 19% are about the same
- 60% are pessimistic about the future for their personal finances, while only 33% are optimistic
- 26% say that Italy is heading in the right direction, 56% say things are off on the wrong track
Pollster John Zogby: "Prime Minister Monti, known as "Il Professore" , is getting high marks from the European Union and the global business community, for his efforts to stabilize the finances and economy of Italy. In fact, his marks are much higher than PM Berlusconi's in the closing months of his scandal-ridden government. But Italians are in a funk and once again neither governing coalition is seen as leading the country out of this crisis, let alone on a path to greatness again. Monti's rule is only seen as temporary and Berlusconi has made noises about returning to his old position. Right now both major parties are weak and, hence, the future of Italy is uncertain."
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