Italy 2013: The official thread

[RogueBeaver]

So I did some Googling about the leaders' foreign language skills. Bersani apparently speaks decent French but might need a script. Monti is excellent in French and English. Renzi speaks pretty good English, though not as good as Monti. If anyone can dig up the PD videos, much appreciated.

http://www.lospaziodellapolitica.com/2012/11/candidato-do-you-speak-english/

Berlusconi is decent in English.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfAGken_8EQ

Monti fantastic but with an accent.

http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,1441566061001_2106444,00.html

[RogueBeaver]

The electoral college will convene on the 18th. Quick reminder on the process: 2/3 on first 3 ballots, simple majority thereafter. PD/SEL can almost elect a candidate outright, so all they need is someone acceptable to Monti.

https://www.facebook.com/electionista/posts/447678031974039

Renzi sure isn't wasting any time, he made a speech to the Florentian trade union congress calling for labour market reform. 

http://www.loccidentale.it/node/120996

http://www.gazzettadelsud.it/news/english/41072/Renzi-says-gridlocked-Italy--wasting-time-.html

[RogueBeaver]

No word on any candidates yet.

[RogueBeaver]

None of the parties have officially proposed a presidential candidate. PdL doesn't want Amato or d'Alema, they did float Berlusconi adviser Letta and Berlusconi himself. One possible compromise candidate is Marini.

http://www.gazzettadelsud.it/news/english/41159/Squabbling-parties-faced-with-election-of-president.html

[RogueBeaver]

Renzi: I'm ready to be a candidate, grand coalition or a new election.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/04/us-italy-vote-idUSBRE9330C020130404

[RogueBeaver]

Bersani is stuck on stupid: still wants to try a minority government after the wise men report.

http://www.gazzettadelsud.it/news/english/41287/Bersani-rebuffs-Renzi-s-call-for-quick-action.html

[RogueBeaver]

We don't know because Bersani is clinging to the leadership like a lobster with lockjaw. I assume one of the two previously mentioned will challenge in a primary. Nor are Napolitano and Bersani happy about Renzi's latest salvo.

In other news, Ruby's back. Could bring some interesting headlines for PdL.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/apr/04/silvio-berlusconi-trial-ruby-warfare

http://www.gazzettadelsud.it/news/english/41287/Bersani-rebuffs-Renzi-s-call-for-quick-action.html

[RogueBeaver]

Hah: In a GE, Berlusconi might not even run himself against Renzi, perhaps Giorgia Meloni as the PdL PM candidate.

http://affaritaliani.libero.it/politica/retroscena-meloni-centrodestra040413.html?refresh_ce

[RogueBeaver]

That was the plan, since Maroni had vetoed Berlusconi as the official PM candidate. Not that it matters since anyone else would be a puppet, which begs the question of why Maroni vetoed in the first place.

Berlusconi wants her because his internal polling shows Renzi handily beating both he and Alfano. Nor does he think Alfano has the ticker to take on Renzi. She's young, relatively popular, female, from a junior coalition partner, been critical of PdL before. When all's said and done, Il Cav is still ducking behind a woman half his age rather than go mano-a-mano with Renzi.

[RogueBeaver]

New PD primary poll from Ipsos: Renzi 40, Bersani 36, Barca 15. Renzi has a lot of work cut out for him in the primary.

http://www.iprmarketing.it/mondo-politico/un-italiano-su-quattro-si-aspetta-elezioni-anticipate

[RogueBeaver]

Some news: Berlusconi said that he and Bersani will meet, Renzi has been denied a slot as one of the Tuscan regional presidential electors, and the PD parliamentary caucus is split 3 ways. 120 bersanini, 50 renziani and 70 "Young Turks." Whereas last year 90% of caucus was pro-Bersani.

http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/nations/italy/2013/04/09/Berlusconi-says-Bersani-finally-open-meeting-_8521997.html

http://www.liberoquotidiano.it/news/1219897/Quirinale-i-renaziani-puntano-su-Prodi.html

Update: Berlusconi-Bersani meeting over, nothing happened. Discussed the presidency but no names.

[RogueBeaver]

Very long interview with Grillo, who's still an HP troll.

http://www.metronews.it/master.php?pagina=notizia.php&id_notizia=13022

[RogueBeaver]

Renzi is rightly pissed at being specifically denied an elector slot on orders from Rome. On the bright side, gives him sympathy for such a public and gratuitous insult.

http://www.ilgiornaledivicenza.it/stories/Regione/495041_grande_coalizione_tra_renzi_e_tosi__gi_una_realt/?refresh_ce

[RogueBeaver]

Bersani denied it on RAI today but obviously no one believed him.  If I had to guess he gave the council a yellow light, I doubt they'd have done that with a red light. The vote was 12-10 in favour of regional Assembly Speaker Alberto Monaci.

http://www.gazzettadelsud.it/news/english/42095/Renzi-spars-with-Bersani.html

[RogueBeaver]

Renzi had to deny silly rumours that he'd split from PD, saying he's a lifer.

http://www.polisblog.it/post/74695/matteo-renzi-non-lascio-il-pd-ma-basta-con-gli-attacchi-personali

Berlusconi-Murdoch detente? Though Murdoch tweeted in support of Renzi a couple of months ago...

http://www.primaonline.it/2013/04/11/116526/mediaset-berlusconi-sonda-murdoch-su-premium/

[RogueBeaver]

PD voters still prefer Renzi 40-29, and he's by far the most trusted pol.

http://www.ilsitodifirenze.it/content/520-sondaggi-il-pd-vuole-matteo-renzi

[RogueBeaver]

Berlusconi saying that a Renzi-led PD would be "modern" and he gets on OK with Vendola as well.

http://www.leggo.it/news/politica/berlusconi_elogio_a_matteo_renzi_nel_pd_lui_il_pi_moderno_di_tutti/notizie/223007.shtml

LOL, Bersani whining about Renzi's "arrogance" and portraying himself as the strong, silent type. Sorry, that level of epic failure doesn't deserve an iota of sympathy.

http://www.globalist.it/Detail_News_Display?ID=42780&typeb=0

[RogueBeaver]

Berlusconi will be PdL's PM candidate in an early election.

[RogueBeaver]

Renzi doesn't want Marini for President because he lost his seat and Finocchario because she was caught using her bodyguards as valets during a shopping trip. Berlusconi doesn't want Prodi and he may want Bonino of all people.

http://www.gazzettadelsud.it/news/english/42661/Renzi-blasted-as--pitiful--in-centre-left-friendly-fire.html

http://www.liberoquotidiano.it/news/1223965/Quirinale-Berlusconi-vede-prima-Renzi-poi-Bersani-voto-a-luglio-pi%C3%B9-vicino.html

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-15/italy-presidential-vote-set-as-rift-in-democratic-party-deepens.html

Apparently Renzi and Berlusconi will be attending the same gala soon, so perhaps an opportunity for a chat.

[RogueBeaver]

Either a massive troll, trying to split PD or genuine. We can probably discount the last one.

[RogueBeaver]

Berlusconi and Bersani have agreed on Marini for President, despite opposition from PD Renziani. Dunno if the presidential vote is a whipped one or not, it'd be embarrassing to have 60-odd PD MPs vote against their party's nominee.

[RogueBeaver]

He'll still win on the first ballot though. Takes office on May 15, right? But first, the PD general council. I hope Renzi's ready.

[RogueBeaver]

I don't know about regional electors, but IBC caucus is 468, PdL 242. The defections mean it'll go to a fourth ballot: 60-odd Renziani, 44 SEL. Of course some could get cold feet later, but given that it's a secret ballot... either way Marini is elected a few days later.

[RogueBeaver]

What's the problem with Marini? Just an old school machine hack?

Any word on how Lega Nord clowns will vote? In the past, they've bucked the coalition and voted for Bossi. Will they fall in like this time or back one of their stooges? I guess it won't be Bossi these days...

Berlusconi said Lega will vote for Marini. IIRC the problem was that he lost his seat in February. Personally I care more about the premiership than the presidency.

[RogueBeaver]

PD caucus vote: 222 Yes, 90 No, 21 Abstain, 90 absent. #clownparty