Outgoing Italian PM Mario Monti considers second term, attacks Berlusconi

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti announced he may be ready to seek second term.

Monti held a news conference on Sunday in Rome where said would consider another political term, just days after resigning on Friday, Reuters reported.

"If a credible political force asked me to be candidate as prime minister for them, I would consider it," Monti explained. He said he was aware the decision carried "many risks and a high probability of failure."

The Los Angeles Times said he will remain as caretaker prime minister until the Feb. 24 election and “will not join any party" but "would be ready to offer my encouragement, advice and, if necessary, leadership."

His resignation comes after attacks from his predecessor Silvio Berlusconi on his government's economic reforms and the withdrawal of the Freedom Party’s support.

Monti said his government had taken over from Berlusconi's government at a difficult time.

"Everyone in Europe knows that Italy counts much more in Europe now than a year ago," he said. ""We have to avoid illusory and extremely dangerous steps backwards."

It has been a "closely guarded secret of weeks" whether he would run in February's parliamentary elections, according to Reuters.

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