[6] On 9 November 2011, Mario Monti an economist and former European Commissioner was appointed a senator for life by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.

[7] He was seen as a favourite to replace Silvio Berlusconi and lead a new unity government in Italy in order to implement reforms and austerity measures.

[10] Monti accepted, and held talks with the leaders of the main Italian political parties, declaring that he wanted to form a government that would remain in office until the next scheduled general elections in 2013.

[11] On 16 November 2011, Monti was sworn in as Prime Minister of Italy, after making known a technocratic government composed entirely of unelected professionals.

[16][17] On 9 October 2012, Interior Minister Anna Maria Cancellieri sacked the municipal administration of Reggio Calabria (mayor, assessors, councillors) for alleged links to the organised crime syndicate 'Ndrangheta after a months long investigation and replaced it with three central government appointed administrators to govern for 18 months until a new election in 2014.