When Monte dei Paschi di Siena – Italy’s third-largest bank – revealed that it faced losses of up to €720 million ($970 million) from complex derivatives deals carried out in 2006-2009, support for Bersani’s coalition slipped, owing to the PD’s long-standing ties to the bank. Given that Italians tend to vote against, rather than for, issues, mistrust of the PD has translated into increased support for Berlusconi’s coalition.