Italy 2013: The official thread

[RogueBeaver]

Can anyone say "Prime Minister-designate Bersani?" Probably a mouthful in Italian.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/italy-president-announce-who-will-form-new-govt

[RogueBeaver]

M5S caucus unanimously voted not to support a Bersani government in either Camera or Senate. Womp womp.

[RogueBeaver]

Abstention counts as "nay" for confidence purposes in the Senate. So no. Berlusconi is technically offering grand coalition but his "price" is Alfano as DPM and a PdL-approved President, among other things. Not that Grand should be touched with a 100-foot pole. So I'm guessing Bersani will have to return his mandate shortly and we wait for the presidential election.

[RogueBeaver]

Now that Bersani's officially failed, I wonder how long his leadership can last. Doubtful the hacks and left abandon Bersani, so it wouldn't happen without a fight.

[RogueBeaver]

Even if he has, the Bersanist wing will put up another candidate. They'll fight to the very end against a Renzi leadership.

[RogueBeaver]

PD says they'll accept a president's government, PdL and M5S say no. PdL demanding Grand Coalition and their presidential choice. Despite denials, apparently Berlusconi himself wanted the Quirinale. The mere idea of SB as President of the Republic makes me almost physically ill, quite possibly the biggest troll move thus far. Some speculation about Bersani being finished, plus a lot of new speculation about Renzi, who's returned to the national arena in recent days.

[RogueBeaver]

Apparently Napolitano is considering resigning early to move up the presidential election and a possible dissolution.

[RogueBeaver]

PD is seriously divided between Bersani and Renzi followers, or so I think the article says.

http://www.campanianotizie.com/politica/italia/57020-governo-in-direzione-pd-resa-conti-bersani-renzi.html

[RogueBeaver]

I'd prefer keeping the crazy trolls as far away from power as possible. And remember that being supposedly discredited might not mean much in this environment- just ask Berlusconi. There is a solution: elect a new president, swap Bersani for Renzi and have another election. Strong, stable PD majority is the only stable way out.

[RogueBeaver]

Napolitano will serve out his term and will be naming an advisory group to try and devise policies with cross-party support. Isn't this what everyone's been trying since the election though?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21981679#TWEET695802

[RogueBeaver]

Renzi still reiterating he's not interested in being PM... if that holds, PD is screwed.

http://www.gonews.it/articolo_189640_Renzi-Lascio-Palazzo-Vecchio-solo-per-fare-il-Premier.html

[RogueBeaver]

Guys, please cut it out. I really don't want Sibboleth to lock the thread.

[RogueBeaver]

You can't reconcile the irreconcilable.

[RogueBeaver]

PD is girding for a Renzi-Barca duel. PD's annual conference is in 3 weeks, and the annual primary (leadership review?) in October. I think it'll take a Berlusconi or Grillo Camera (since I doubt anyone's winning the Senate right now) win to wake them up.

http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/interni/bersani-non-molla-pd-si-prepara-duello-renzi-barca-901731.html

[RogueBeaver]

Who the hell is Barca? Never heard before.

Stefano Barca, the Bersanist heir apparent.

[RogueBeaver]

My bad. Though the point remains that Bersanists are still delusionally stuck in ABR mode.

[RogueBeaver]

Reports that Bersani will probably leave, Renzi laying the groundwork for taking the party leadership. Even Berlusconi's daughter Barbara said he'd be the better PD candidate.

http://www.giornalettismo.com/archives/856601/il-piano-di-renzi/

PD voters have realized their mistake: Renzi now pwns Bersani 66-10.


http://urbanpost.it/sondaggi-renzi-batte-bersani-66-a-10

[RogueBeaver]

Whoa: Bersani saying that he'd step aside if PD feels he's an impediment to forming government, will lead the party at least till its congress in a few weeks. If he does step aside, I'd at least thank him for putting the national and party interest above his own personal ambition.

[RogueBeaver]

PdL now saying that if Bersani won't go Grand- which he completely ruled out this morning- then there's no choice but a June election.

[RogueBeaver]

According to Wiki the presidential election joint session must start no later than the 14th. Does anyone know who the candidates might be? PD is only a dozen votes short in the electoral college, so this shouldn't take long. Then the PD congress in 3 weeks, when the baton will either be passed or start moving that way.

[RogueBeaver]

Either way very unlikely he leads the party for much longer. His best bet would be stepping aside for another leftist candidate and hoping that person wins. Doesn't seem likely for now.

Questions for the Italians: Will leadership be a topic at the PD congress in 3 weeks?

[RogueBeaver]

Yeah, I know. Their candidate doesn't necessarily share their views, that's what I was saying in shorthand. Bersani offered to meet with Berlusconi but Alfano said no because the only real reason to talk was grand coalition, which PD has wisely refused. When do the 10 Wise Men report?

[RogueBeaver]

The poll was a hypothetical primary rematch between Bersani and Renzi, not a general election matchup. Otherwise agreed that polls aren't too valuable right now.

M5S: They're a protest party. As for PdL, they're just being PdL.

[RogueBeaver]

Renzi's financial report for his foundation is out. Raised 865k Euros. Apparently he got 100k of that from a financial institution, which is causing some buzz. What exactly is Renzi's foundation about? Is this a fundraising organization? Not familiar with Italian campaign finance law.

http://corrierefiorentino.corriere.it/firenze/notizie/politica/2013/2-aprile-2013/a-renzi-100mila-euro-finanziere-serra-212456508727.shtml

[RogueBeaver]

Pro forma, obviously. We still haven't heard of any presidential candidates proposed by either side.