Economist Mario Monti has been nominated Sunday to take over Silvio Berlusconi's position as Italy's prime minister 　　Italian President Giorgio Napolitano praised Monti, who is a former European union commissioner, calling him "gifted, competent, experienced, and well respected" in both Europe and around the globe. 　　The now former Prime Minister, Berlusconi, who has dominated the political stage for 17 years, has stepped down on Saturday, right after the Parliament passed a series of austerity measures. 　　As for the roads ahead, Monti said that he has been asked to form a new government with a goal to resume growth and tackle Italy's ongoing finance problems.