Minister: Italy's Berlusconi to Resign

[goobergunch]

ROME - Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi will resign and form a new government to strengthen his struggling conservative coalition, the foreign minister said Monday.

more at link....

[Doctor_J]

1. Ahh... a fascist with some dignity

when can we expect * to call it quits?

[skylarmae]

7. rriigghhtt!! ya just made me choke on my coffee with this one..

LOLOL

[Robbien]

13. Not really I believe

Berlusconi created a mess of Italian economy and was having trouble keeping his support while fending off criticism. If he steps down, someone else will be responsible for cleaning up the mess (and getting the criticism) while Berlusconi rebuilds his power base. Remember Berlusconi owns most of the media which will be spinning away.

[PassingFair]

54. Hopefully the Italian citizenry will prove less gullible...

than the American sheeple.

[glaucon]

2. which link?

:)

[Mithras61]

6. Click on the AP icon. n/t

n/t

[UpInArms]

3. thanks for the best news of the day!

:applause:

[napi21]

4. What does that mean?

"resign and form a new government???? Does it mean form a new party? I don't understnad.

[Teaser]

8. He's dissolving his government

and attempting to find new parties for a new one. No new elections yet...if he fails to form a gov't, then elections, I believe.

[Mithras61]

9. Largely because of the large numbers of parties...

in the Italian Parliament, governments are formed by coalitions. Since Berlusconi's fell apart when one of the larger players pulled out, he plans to resign as PM and try to form a new coalition that makes up a majority of the parliament.

[Fab1969]

49. Actually...

two small parties (UDC and the "new socialists") which pulled out. But they didn't really pull out, since they requested to create a new government with Berlusca still as PM with a "new program."
Berlusca promised to resign, then met with Ciampi and changed his mind.
It's all being very farcical, but that's nothing new with Italian politics (e.g. hard core Communists, Rifondazione Comunista, gathering up signatures for Alessandra Mussolini).

[Doctor_J]

10. In most civilized countries, different parties

form coalitions and govern by making concessions and compromises, thereby guaranteeing representation for the people. "Form a new government" means that the existing coalitions will be reworked.

This of course is unlike the US, where the 51% of us who voted against * get no voice at all.

[Zorra]

17. That was my first thought....does that mean "RW coup attempt"?

[DemBeans]

5. well, well

The price for being a Bush puppet seems to be high, very high.

This is what happens when you ignore the will of your own people, and cast your lot with a murderous thug like Bush.

[rocktivity]

11. What's Italian for, "Hasta la vista, moran"?

And may his replacment tell Bush that they either get examine the car in the reporter shooting, or they pull their troops immediately!

:bounce:
rocknation

[thecrow]

18. arrivederci, moran n/t

[despairing optimist]

48. Moran = imbecile, analfabeta, stupido, testa merda (shithead)

[Fab1969]

50. let's get the swear words straight ...

Imbecille (2 l's)
Testa di Merda (you need the possessive preposition "di" = "of").

[despairing optimist]

52. Okay, okay. I checked my Garzanti dictionary

and found "sciocco" for imbecile too. I'm a little rusty. To make up for it I'll have spaghetti with tomato sauce for dinner.

Thanks for your corrections, and benvenuto al DU.

[Fab1969]

53. Grazie di cuore

[napi21]

28. I think you can say Ciao Papa

I think that's how it's spelled. Pronounced chow. My son lives in Sicily, and that's what they all say for by-by.

[mimitabby]

30. Papa would be the pope! n/t

[Fab1969]

51. it's a matter of accents

Papa' (accent on the 2nd a) = Daddy
Papa (accent on the 1st a) = Pope

[alcibiades_mystery]

29. Unfortunately, he will be his own replacement

This is just cosmetics.

[Straight Shooter]

12. Very clever, Silvio. I hope you fail. eom

[acmavm]

14. QUESTION: Does this mean he can be prosecuted now for his

various and sundry illegal deeds? You know, the ones they passed the law saying he couldn't be prosecuted for while in office?

[confludemocrat]

40. This is a very good question

This man needs to be taken out. period. No let's let bygones be bygones, but lock the fucker up and confiscate his ill-gotten assets.

[DrDebug]

47. Yep if he loses he can no longer claim immunity

And they have filed on Friday to resume his trial...

Italian PM's fraud trial resumes

Berlusconi has accused the Italian left of a witch hunt
Berlusconi has gone back on trial on corruption charges after an immunity law was rejected earlier this year.

The hearings in Milan resumed amid legal wrangling, as prosecutors accused the presiding judge of bias and called for his removal.

Mr Berlusconi allegedly tried to bribe judges to influence a business deal.

The charges are the most serious Mr Berlusconi has faced in nearly 10 years of investigations.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3630647.stm

[glaucon]

15. New government?

Let's hope the conditions set for "forming a new government" are immediate withdrawal of all Italian troops from Iraq.

[daleo]

16. I wonder if he can form a new coalition

Knowing nothing about the details, I would speculate that any new coalition would have to be made up of more extreme elements, else they would have been in the previous coalition. So, this seems like a ploy to keep the right wing elements in power.

One has to assume this all relates to the Italian journalist and security agents shot by U.S. forces. Probably people in the know in Italy have found out just how contemptuously Bush is treating them.

[mimitabby]

31. not true!

in the last election, 11 out of 13 regions voted for the moderate liberals instead of berlusconi's party.
he knows they're going to get rid of him anyway!

[daleo]

38. So, it sounds like this won't work then.

And Berlusconi will have to go to the polls.

[tabasco]

19. I hope the Italian people reject the warmonger.

The decision to go along with Bush's unjustified war was not made to benefit the Italian people. Like Bush, Berlusconi was thinking about his corporate cronies and himself. Italy should outright reject Berlusconi and the right wing. I pray for the day when the American people open their eyes and do the same thing here.

[mimitabby]

20. Italian PM to form new government - Berlusconi to resign

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4457161.stm

Silvio Berlusconi will resign as Italy's prime minister and then accept a request to form a new coalition government, officials have said.
The moves would end growing political uncertainty in Italy and avoid the need for early elections.

Mr Berlusconi struck a deal with the Union of Christian Democrats (UDC), ending a crisis sparked by a string of poor results in recent elections.

The UDC pulled out of Italy's coalition after demanding key policy changes.

.. more

[emad]

21. Completely unconnected to the news that 4 have just been

indicted in the Rome murder trial of God's Banker Roberto Calvi........?

[meganmonkey]

22. Hmmm....that's interesting

Ooops, looks like a dupe...

[havocmom]

23. Two down. How many to bushco ?

Spain..... check
Italy..... check

[grytpype]

It's just a formality.

When the new government is formed Berlusconi will be its PM.

[htuttle]

25. Would Berlusconi do this if he wasn't sure he'd get re-elected?

It wouldn't be in character for the little Duce to 'resign' as in 'give up power'. I bet he's already got agreements that he will lead this new coalition he's putting together.

[alcibiades_mystery]

27. He's doing it to avoid calling elections

Which he will surely lose.

He'll still be Prime Minister of the new coalition

The old coalition had failed, and unless a new one was formed, he'd have to call elections. Given the devastating results of the regionals, it is a safe bet to say that Berlusconi would have his ass handed to him in national elections.

Desperate move here. Expect national strikes as countermove and increased pressure form the Left coalition.

[TahitiNut]

32. Are you saying it's a Little Duce Coup?

:silly:

(He swings! He hits! It's a tri-lingual double!) Pun: The Highest Form of Humor

[htuttle]

34. (WHISTLE) Oh no, it looks like there's a flag down on that post...

(reverb on)

"Illegal use of Pun. Roughing the Listener. Offense. 5 yards, no first down."

[TahitiNut]

35. Nonsense. It's a three-point perversion!!

:evilgrin: Zebras are colour-blind.

(It's hard work, but somebody's gotta do it.) :silly:

[Judi Lynn]

56. Don't make us have to come after you!

[alcibiades_mystery]

26. He will STILL be Prime Minister

Just under a new coalition government.

He's trying desperately to avoid elections, which will throw him out of power for real. This is half-measure that means nothing.

[confludemocrat]

42. What are the key policy changes the UDC wants?

"The UDC pulled out of Italy's coalition after demanding key policy changes."

[alcibiades_mystery]

46. That's a good goddamn question

And one the news report should have answered.

Here's the problem for the UDC: If they're viewed as too in league with the berlusconi crew, they're worried that they'll lose seats in next year's election. The only possible policy problem for them MUST be Iraq and the relations with the Bush administration. Perhaps some EU stuff, but not much.

What were the UDC's policy beefs?

[alcibiades_mystery]

24. Just to be clear: He will still be Prime Minister of the new coalition

He's doing this to avoid elections.

The previous coalition failed. That means a new one has to be formed. That can happen in two ways: New elections, or a deal to form a new coalition. They have chosen the second. In order for that to happen, Berlusconi must resign (since his PM-ship is connected to the old, failed coalition), then form the new coalition, then resume his duties as PM under THAT coalition. That is what they are doing.

They are doing this to avoid national elections, which Berlusconi would surely lose.

Nothing has changed here, really. Berlusconi will continue as Prime Minister of the new coalition government.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

33. And what if not enough other parties accept the invitation?

Would THAT force an election?

[alcibiades_mystery]

36. It's a done deal already

The Unione Democratico-Cristiana e di Centro (UDC) was looking for a coalition platform change for next year's required vote, and they got it. Follini (or the UDC) has already committed to the new coalition.

This is a formality to help to UDC get comfortable after the devastating regionals. Berlusconi has WON this round, contrary to appearances.

[bvar22]

37. The last "unpopular" Italian government .

The last "unpopular" Italian government


This is how Italy deals with arrogant NeoCons.

Berlusconi's not going to hang around too long where he's not wanted. Unlike bush*, Silvio reads the papers.

[confludemocrat]

41. Pettacci=todays Condi

How did they keep her skirt from being disarranged uncouthly? We'll need to do that with Condi, too, for the sake of public decency.

[wicket]

39. kick

:kick:

[RayOfHope]

43. He didn't resign after all

Berlusconi Startles, Confuses Italy by Not Resigning


http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=8215221

[rocktivity]

44. Uh-oh...

Berlusconi Defies Ally; Refuses to Resign, Form New Government

:shrug:
rocknation

[alcibiades_mystery]

45. Whoa, Nelly

He's going to the mat despite the UDC pullout?

He very well could fall, and that right quick.

Good. Be a stupid gambler, Silvio. Bet it all on your media outlets. The push is in the other direction. We may well get him out of there.

[NYC]

55. Let us hope.

That would make me very happy.

[rman]

57. so, nothing will really change.

he doesn't like this government so he will make a new one - without elections.