Dead Man Walking?

2 August 2010



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Berlusconi Loses Majority, Seeks Allies to Stay in Power

Regular readers of this journal understand that it has special loathing for Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's media magnate, richest man and prime minister. Imagine for a moment, Rupert Murdoch owning the BBC in addition to the papers he already has and living at Number 10 Downing Street, and one understands the aversion. So when news broke that he lost his majority in the lower house of the Italian Parliament, one got a warm fuzzy feeling. Now comes word that his search for new allies is foundering. Things are five steps past warm and fuzzy now.

Gianfranco Fini, speaker of the lower house of parliament, former neo-fascist (really, not just name calling there) and co-founder of Berlusconi's People of Freedom Party [PdL is the Italian acronym], has been at odds with Mr. Berlusconi over several issues. Topping that list are Mr. Berlusconi's legislative attempts to give himself immunity from various criminal prosecutions; the list also includes disputes on immigration and PdL party democracy. He and 32 colleagues have formed the Future and Liberty for Italy bloc (which may also have 10 senators from the upper house as members). They say they will vote for the government on a case-by-case basis. Without their support, Mr. Berlusconi is 8 votes shy of the 316 he needs to pass legislation.

Quite naturally, Mr. Berlusconi has gone looking for replacements. However, indications are that he is not having quite the luck he would want. He approached the Union of Christian and Centre Democrats over the week-end; their 39 seats would more than make up for the defection of the Future and Liberty bloc. The Union's head Pierfernando Casini said after the discussions, "not a single on of us will side with Silvio."

Despite that, Mr. Berlusconi is confident that he will be able to soldier on. "There is no crisis and no need for elections," he announced over the week-end. Il Giornale, the daily paper that Mr. Berlusconi owns, ran an article that said he had underestimated the strength of the rebellion. That paper stated, "Silvio has no fear for the future, but is tempted by elections." That might be a trial balloon to see if there is a case for balloting to resolve the non-crisis. It is hard to believe that paper would print such a statement without Mr. Berlusconi's knowledge and approval.

Under the Italian constitution, though, it is not up to Mr. Berlusconi to dissolve parliament and call elections. President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano holds that power, and as a socialist, he may prefer to let a minority government run the country for a time because the left in Italy is divided and weak.

The defection of Mr. Fini is a serious blow to Mr. Berlusconi; indeed, it could be fatal. Massimo Donadi, who leads the left-leaning Italy of Values Party, told the press yesterday, "Berlusconi is a dead man walking. He just hasn't realized it yet." One hopes so. By the same token, Mr. Berlusconi has had more than one political resurrection. One will not believe he is truly finished in politics until he is buried with a stake through his heart. He isn't so much a dead man walking as one of the political walking undead.

© Copyright 2010 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Ubuntu Linux.

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