Italian Premier Mario Monti has unveiled his logo for February elections and pledged to scrutinize parliamentary candidates on his ticket to eliminate those with conflicts of interest, convictions or organized crime ties.

Moving forward in his campaign, Monti summoned journalists Friday evening to show off his symbol, a circle with stripes of red, white and green, the colors of the Italian flag - and the slogan "Civic choice with Monti for Italy."

Appointed 14 months ago to save Italy from the Eurozone debt crisis, Monti insisted for months he wouldn't run, only to jump recently into politics, encouraged by industrialists, pro-Vatican politicians and centrists. Rivals include his predecessor, conservative leader and media mogul Silvio Berlusconi, comic and political agitator Beppe Grillo and center-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani, who leads polls.