I know, I can hardly wait either.

Looks at this stage like a contest between the 71 years old Berlusconi and the moderate Vertoni.

Berlusconi's generally considered a crook both abroad and within Italy (and with Italy'sd history of mafia interference that's saying something) but he rmains terribly popular. His last term was actually very successful; he lasted five years. Look at this list, most only last a year or so (they've had 36 to our 17 since WW2).

Did you read the article on Berlusconi in the Economist? Scathing is barely describing it. It laid into the crookery, corruption and lack of propriety which drives Berlusconi's career in politics and demolished his governments' record. There could be a libel case brought before the courts about it, and that would be the second time for the Economist! Berlusconi makes Bertie Ahern look angelic in comparison.

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

Did you read the article on Berlusconi in the Economist? Scathing is barely describing it. It laid into the crookery, corruption and lack of propriety which drives Berlusconi's career in politics and demolished his governments' record. There could be a libel case brought before the courts about it, and that would be the second time for the Economist! Berlusconi makes Bertie Ahern look angelic in comparison.

A scarily meglomaniacal Charlie Haughey would be closer to the point - but the whole poor south will vote for him - because if he regains power - the first group he will go after is the judiciary and that would suit the Cosa Nostra just fine.

Edo wrote:

Ard-Taoiseach wrote:

Did you read the article on Berlusconi in the Economist? Scathing is barely describing it. It laid into the crookery, corruption and lack of propriety which drives Berlusconi's career in politics and demolished his governments' record. There could be a libel case brought before the courts about it, and that would be the second time for the Economist! Berlusconi makes Bertie Ahern look angelic in comparison.

A scarily meglomaniacal Charlie Haughey would be closer to the point - but the whole poor south will vote for him - because if he regains power - the first group he will go after is the judiciary and that would suit the Cosa Nostra just fine.

Exactly, he's served quite a long term as Prime Minister of Italy. About 7 years when you put it together. He'll have at least 8 by the time this government is finished. Most Italian PMs only last a wet week.

crisis seems to befell the left gov while there in, no doubt the right wingers helped that along somewhat leading to short governments.

lostexpectation wrote:

criss seems to befell the left gov while there in, no doubt the right wingers helped that along somewhat leading to short governments.

What they've done is given the Prodi Government a poison pill. The new electoral law over there vastly inreased the number oif parties over there making parliamentary democracy un-workable. The new government has to end that law and get rid of about 20 parties causing clutter around the parliament building. Italian politics, economic affairs and society need a fundamental shift in attitude and culture.

Football pundit on "Off the Ball" lastnight suggested that AC Milan's overt interest in signing Ronaldinho could well be for the benefit of Berlusconi's political campaign.

Zhou_Enlai wrote:

Football pundit on "Off the Ball" lastnight suggested that AC Milan's overt interest in signing Ronaldinho could well be for the benefit of Berlusconi's political campaign.

What Berlusconi should concentrate on is lifting Italy's GDP growth rate from 1% to 3-4%. That's what's important.

Interesting to know polls cannot be published for two weeks before hand. I reckon it is a great idea.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/default.stm
As was generally predicted, Berlusconi looks likely to be re-elected, but with less of a margin than he might have hoped for. We won't be certain till tomorrow. There's rumours about that he might go for a grand-coalition as seen in Germany. Are there any Germany-spotters here who can tell us how that's going?

Turn-out was a 78%, apparantly bad by Italian standards. One fellow expressed his frustration with politicians by eating his ballot papers, an arrestable offence.

905 wrote:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/default.stm
As was generally predicted, Berlusconi looks likely to be re-elected, but with less of a margin than he might have hoped for. We won't be certain till tomorrow. There's rumours about that he might go for a grand-coalition as seen in Germany. Are there any Germany-spotters here who can tell us how that's going?

Surprisingly well. Angela Merkel seems to have an Ahern-like knack for building a stable coalition govt. Even against the buffets of opinion polls, roller-coaster local elections, the SPD's assault on the left by Die Links Partei and the fact that both(rightly) think themselves leader of any German government.

Quote :

Turn-out was a 78%, apparantly bad by Italian standards. One fellow expressed his frustration with politicians by eating his ballot papers, an arrestable offence.

He must have had some meal. With the hundred parties on the ballot, its a weighty affair. Methinks if they don't flush out the nonsense parties, this government won't last 3 years.

NYT calls it.

Looks like Signior Berlusconi is back in the PM's chair again. What do my fellow citizens of this Nation think?