Berlusconi's Handling of Economy a `Disaster,' Opponent Says
Jan. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's handling of the nation's economy has been a ``disaster,'' his 2001 opponent said, signaling the issue will be central in the campaign for parliamentary elections on April 9. The ``real disaster of the government is the economy,'' Francesco Rutelli said in debate late yesterday televised on Berlusconi-owned Mediaset SpA, the country's largest television network. ``Italians have woken up to the fact that the government made profound errors in economic policy.'' Five years ago, Berlusconi signed a ``contract'' with Italians, promising an economic miracle, lower taxes and 1 million new jobs. Since then, the economy has slipped twice into recession, its deficit and debt have swelled and the country ranks as the least competitive of the 12 euro nations, according to the World Economic Forum.
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