EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said Wednesday he was "profoundly concerned" that the outcome of Italy's election would make the country hard to govern.
"When I saw the results, and the composition of the houses of parliament that derive from these results, I was profoundly concerned because it means the governability of Italy faces serious difficulties," Almunia said.
Political leaders would be required to make "a huge effort" to implement the necessary decisions in the interest of the Italian people, he said, stressing that these were his personal opinions.
"I think the reasons that led to these results ... are to be found in Italy, not in Brussels," Almunia added, rejecting suggestions that voters were reacting to austerity measures imposed by the EU.