Mr Bersani's supporters complain privately that his disruptive adversary is merely seeking to shore up his credibility.

ECONOMIST: Italy needs to deregulate its economy

Full currency union seems to remove that margin of discretion, and shore up the credibility of the government's promise not to devalue.

ECONOMIST: No more peso?

Abroad, France will try to shore up its post-Libya credibility.

ECONOMIST: Europe: Le choix: Hollande or Sarkozy | The