As expected, the government won the vote in the upper house of parliament easily, by 281 votes to 25.

The vote was held on November 17 after Mr Monti had outlined his government's programme of reforms to tackle the country's economic problems and cut its debt. He faced a second vote in the lower house or Chamber of Deputies on November 18.

Mario Monti, a former EU commissioner, said austerity measures would be balanced by economic growth and social fairness.

Mr Monti formed his cabinet, made up of business leaders and other experts, after Mr Berlusconi's centre-right administration fell last week under market pressure.

In another development on November 17, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said its monitors would travel to Italy in late November to evaluate the country's economy.

IMF spokesman David Hawley said discussions would not include the European Commission or the European Central Bank. The move is part of efforts to reassure markets of Italy's economic reforms.