Monti vows "radical reform" if elected Mario Monti has held his first campaign rally ahead of next month's elections, promising "radical reforms" that would include a sharp cut in the number of members of parliament and constitutional changes to reduce the costs of government. The former economics professor - making the leap from technocrat prime minister to campaigning politician - was given a standing ovation on Sunday from supporters gathering near the northern city of Bergamo. He presented the candidates - mostly non-politicians - running for his hastily formed Civic Choice movement. Mr Monti's centrist alliance, strongly Catholic in orientation and backed by two parties led by former allies of Silvio Berlusconi, finds itself trailing in opinion polls, in a distant third or even fourth place, struggling to carve out a clear political identity. Nonetheless, a fragmented parliament could result in Mr Monti playing kingmaker as possible alliance partner, should the centre-left Democrats fall short of a majority in the upper house, as some opinion polls suggest. Attacking the "moderate" Mr Berlusconi, whom he replaced as prime minister at the height of the 2011 eurozone financial crisis, Mr Monti said Italy did not need "moderation in the sense of half measures, but radical reforms." Were he to win the February 24-25 elections, his first cabinet meeting would institute constitutional reforms, including a "drastic reduction in the number of MPs" and a reorganisation of the state to make it "less costly," implying a centralisation of powers away from regional authorities. Recognising the unpopularity of tax increases imposed by his government, Mr Monti said he did not rule out possible tax cuts if conditions allowed. He criticised the leftwing allies of the Democratic party, which has a sizeable lead in the polls, but levelled his strongest attacks against Mr Berlusconi's centre-right coalition. He said the "right" had blocked his reforms over the past year - singling out proposed laws on conflict of interest, false accounting and corruption. Mr Berlusconi, seeking his fourth stint as prime minister since leading the centre right to its first victory in 1994, is apparently struggling to overcome internal divisions in drawing up his People of Liberty's candidate list before a Monday evening deadline. Marcello Dell'Utri, a senator and long-time business partner of Mr Berlusconi, removed one hurdle by confirming on Sunday that he would not stand for re-election. Mr Dell'Utri is currently appealing against his conviction by a Palermo court on charges of association with the Mafia. However, Nicola Cosentino, a former treasury under-secretary whose trial on charges of links with organised crime in the Naples region begins this week, has not withdrawn his name. Cosentino brings 30,000 votes. It will be a close contest in [the region of] Campania," an MP close to Mr Berlusconi told the Financial Times. Berlusconi has to choose between the votes he brings and the image of the party.