And also to Monti's choice by Napolitano (who IIRC got phone calls) and his approval by parliament. Pressure coming both from politicians and markets. If the Monti government still has a high approval rate, then the majority or of the population either ignores the government's policies thinking that Monti is still better than Berlu or the other idiots, or must have been shocked to think that austerity and market reforms are the way out of crisis. I disagree, but, at least, Italy having significant exports (IIRC), maybe austerity won't be a complete disaster like in Greece or Portugal.

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}