Monti and Berlusconi Clash Over Taxes

Italian election six weeks away

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti and one of his challengers in next month's elections, Silvio Berlusconi, sparred over the government's unpopular property tax and economic policy in a weekend media blitz.

Monti signaled that the property tax known as IMU could be restructured, while Berlusconi renewed a pledge to eliminate the levy on the purchase of a first home, a move that would mean a revenue shortfall of more than 3 billion euros ($3.9 billion).