How did Silvio Berlusconi’s return to politics in 2012 affect Mario Monti’s government?

Silvio Berlusconi’s return to the political scene in December 2012 significantly destabilized the administration of Prime Minister Mario Monti.12

By promoting a populist agenda and criticizing Monti’s austerity measures as excessively harsh, Berlusconi disrupted the delicate political balance that had supported the technocratic government. Consequently, Berlusconi’s People of Freedom (Popolo della Libertà) party withdrew its support from the government.13

Without a clear parliamentary majority, Monti was forced to resign as prime minister, though he remained in office in a caretaker capacity until early elections could be held in February 2013.13