Italy's outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti pledged to cut labour taxes to fuel growth, as he shed his neutral stance and fired the opening salvo of his election campaign.
The former European Commissioner was appointed in November 2011 to lead an unelected right-left government of experts to save Italy from financial crisis after Silvio Berlusconi quit.
Mr Berlusconi's party withdrew its support for Mr Monti in December, and he resigned on December 21, about two months earlier than had been planned.
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