Italy 2013: The official thread

[Antonio the Sixth]

Like Thatcher, Andreotti's legacy is alive and well, depressingly.

[RogueBeaver]

Berlusconi gets sentenced to 4 years for his media charges, but can still appeal to the Court of Cassation.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Berlusconi gets sentenced to 4 years for his media charges, but can still appeal to the Court of Cassation.

He'll probably force PD to pass a law to save his ass. These f**king idiots are f**kingly idiotic enough to go along.

[Leftbehind]

Berlusconi gets sentenced to 4 years for his media charges, but can still appeal to the Court of Cassation.

He'll probably force PD to pass a law to save his ass. These f**king idiots are f**kingly idiotic enough to go along.

On the slim chance PD have a shred of moral integrity, and don't, we'd then be looking at a collapse of this monstrosity of a coalition before it even began. It'd be absolutely toxic for their supporters, no? Surely self-preservation could force a moral stand?

[Antonio the Sixth]

Berlusconi gets sentenced to 4 years for his media charges, but can still appeal to the Court of Cassation.

He'll probably force PD to pass a law to save his ass. These f**king idiots are f**kingly idiotic enough to go along.

On the slim chance PD have a shred of moral integrity, and don't, we'd then be looking at a collapse of this monstrosity of a coalition before it even began. It'd be absolutely toxic for their supporters, no? Surely self-preservation could force a moral stand?

I'd like to think so as well, but remember the PD base overwhelmingly supported Rodotà too..

[Leftbehind]

Recommended course of action if they do support Berlusconi:

[RogueBeaver]

Remember that he has a final appeal, which could take some time. Depends when the next election is and who wins it, since I doubt the coalition will break their promise to Napolitano. At least not for the next months.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Recommended course of action if they do support Berlusconi:

Really, this applies to the entire Italian political class.

[Peter the Lefty]

Recommended course of action if they do support Berlusconi:

Really, this applies to the entire Italian political class.

Minus Vendola and maybe a few young PDers.  But yes, it's true.  How about the French one too, while we're at it?

[Antonio the Sixth]

Recommended course of action if they do support Berlusconi:

Really, this applies to the entire Italian political class.

Minus Vendola and maybe a few young PDers.  But yes, it's true.  How about the French one too, while we're at it?

No comparison.

[RogueBeaver]

Letta's constitutional commission is DOA, the proposed reforms will have to go through Parliament instead. Meanwhile PD is increasingly Balkanized and they're electing former labour federation chief Guglielmo Epifani as interim leader till the fall convention. Joke government, and Berlusconi continues to pull away in the polls. Now lead 35-29.

http://albertonardelli.tumblr.com/post/50098245935/the-biggest-political-story-in-italy-right-now

[jaichind]

Berlusconi’s Lead Widens in Italy Poll of Voting Intentions
By Chiara Vasarri
May 10 (Bloomberg) -- Former PM Berlusconi’s lead over Democratic Party’s bloc and its allies increased to 5.7 pps vs 4.1 pps last week, Trieste, Italy-based SWG pollster says in survey distributed by e-mail. • Berlusconi’s coalition at 35.9% vs 34.2% last week: SWG • PD and allies at 30.2% vs 30.1% last week: SWG • Beppe Grillo’s Five Star Movement at 21.8% vs 23.7% last week: SWG • Former PM Monti’s centrist parties at 7.1% vs 7.7% last week: SWG • Poll conducted May 7-8 on 1,500  

I wonder at some stage Berlusconi will create a crisis in such a way as to make it look like PD is not being reasnable (like the real estate tax rebate) to force another election so he can then sweep to power.

[Keystone Phil]

Looks like his legal problems still aren't hurting him.

Glad to see Monti's coalition continuing to plummet. Still would like an idea about what he will do. At this point, the 7% has to be the standard total amount that UdC and other centrist parties receive each election. Monti can't be bringing in much of anything on his own anymore. Here's hoping they all run separately.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Looks like his legal problems still aren't hurting him.

Well, duh. At this point, news about Berlusconi being sentenced to prison is like news about Sarah Palin saying something stupid. Those who could have abandoned him because of this already abandoned him a long time ago.

[RogueBeaver]

Prodi has reportedly left the PD.

[Keystone Phil]

Prodi has reportedly left the PD.

Haha. Wow. And going to...?

Anyway, a little over a week away from Rome's Mayoral election. Any developments?

[Antonio the Sixth]

Prodi has reportedly left the PD.

Wow, well done. He's far too good for this bunch of morons.

[Keystone Phil]

The government is aiming for changes to the electoral law to be passed by July 31st.

[RogueBeaver]

The government is aiming for changes to the electoral law to be passed by July 31st.

Which are?

[Keystone Phil]

The government is aiming for changes to the electoral law to be passed by July 31st.

Which are?

Didn't read. Just wanted to report the headline. I figured you or Tony would give a run down anyway.

[Antonio the Sixth]

The government is aiming for changes to the electoral law to be passed by July 31st.

Which are?

They'll make Berlusconi President for life.

[Andrea]

Main cities voting during the weekend

Rome (held by Centre-Right) *
Brescia (CR) *
Lodi (CL)
Sondrio (CL) *
Treviso (CR)
Vicenza (CL) *
Imperia (CR)
Massa (CL)
Pisa (CL) *
Siena (CL)
Ancona (Cl)
Viterbo (CR) *
Isernia  (CL)
Avellino (CL)
Barletta (CL)
Catania (CR) *
Messina (CR)
Siracusa (CR)
Iglesias (CR)


*=incumbents re-standing

[jaichind]

Latest SWG poll.  Has Berlusconi’s coalition at 36.2%, PD and allies at 28.9%, Beppe Grillo’s Five Star Movement at 22.6%, and former PM Monti’s centrist parties at 6.9%. 

I wonder if this type of lead by Berlusconi would be enough to get him a Senete Majority in an early election.  For sure this type of swing should be enough for Berlusconi to win in places like Piedmont, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Lazio which should net him 22-23 Senete seats right there due to bonus effects.  Increased vote shares in other places should net him another 10-15 seats with a 7% lead.  Only tricky part is how many seats Grillo could get which really is a function of the distribution of his vote. 

[Keystone Phil]

Let's go Alemanno!

[Andrea]

At the end of first day of voting, average turnout 44.66% vs 60% last time.
In Rome it's down from 57.2 to 37.69