Debate: Is Italy going the way of Greece in 2015?

The Italian government elected this summer has a number of similarities with the SYRIZA-Independent Greeks coalition that came into office in Greece in early 2015 and jolted the eurozone with its apparently defiant policy that led to a three-week shutdown of the country's banks, the imposition of strict capital controls, a divisive referendum and a fresh bailout program worth 86 billion euros. Now it is Rome that appears to be pursuing a quasi-defiant policy toward the eurozone.

Kathimerini English Edition presents the views of Daniel Gros, the director of the Center for European Policy Studies, and Megan Greene, global chief economist at Manulife/John Hancock Asset Management, on the similarities and differences between Greece in 2015 and Italy today.

Daniel Gros: Since June of this year Italy has a new government, which is composed of one right-wing (Lega Nord) party...