Italy 2013: The official thread

[Keystone Phil]

Ah, I was told (by an Italian) that it would be next Spring. So this should be even worse for PdL, right? Who are the rumored candidates on each side? Alemanno?

[Keystone Phil]

I read that Alemanno said today that there shouldn't even be a PdL list in Rome in the next elections and believes the party should be "refounded."

How would this work? And what's the point of refounding the party if the list shouldn't even be run (or does he mean that a list shouldn't be run unless the party is refounded)? Does this mean a candidate for the Right will likely be from outside of the PdL now?

[Keystone Phil]

Back to strictly national news...

A new Ipsos poll apparently shows center-right voters preferring that Alfano run for Prime Minister instead of Berlusconi!

Also, the PD primary looks very interesting: Bersani - 38%   Renzi - 36%

National ballot: PD - 28%  PdL - 19%  M5S - 18%   

[Keystone Phil]

On an unrelated noted, 70-80% of Venetians favor independence? Ugh.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9589732/Mass-rally-in-Venice-to-call-for-independence-from-Italy.html

[Keystone Phil]

When is the exact date (or is the primary held over two days, too?) for the primary?

[Keystone Phil]

Glad Renzi doesn't sound awful.

[Keystone Phil]

I don't think they have meaningful policy differences at this point. All of the PD is made of Third Way centrists at this point.

I guess it comes down to style and if PdL voters still think they have a shot, I guess they better hope for Bersani to survive.

[Keystone Phil]

Things seem to go from bad to worse for PdL - the Governor of Lombardy is now faced with the possibility of Lega Nord pulling out of the Regional Council. Formigoni would then have to rule and run with just PdL which would affect elections in Veneto and Piedmont as they are supposedly part of a joint political agreement.

Lega Nord is threatening to quit because of a personal scandal surrounding Formigoni, in hopes that he'd step aside. It's never good when someone is forced to say they won't resign. Formigoni had to do just that today.

[Keystone Phil]

Oh, and Formigoni is also taking heat for a councillor in his government allegedly buying votes from 'Ndrangheta. Can't forget that little tidbit.

[Keystone Phil]

Latest poll by TgLa7...

Prime Minister preference:

Monti - 20%
Renzi - 12%
Bersani - 11%
Berlusconi - 8%

(I guess Vendola isn't registering enough support. Seems strange.)

Party preference:

PD - 28%
M5S - 18%
PdL - 17%
LN - 6%
UdC - 6%
SEL - 5%
IdV - 4%
FLI - 3%
LD - 2%
FdS - 2%

[Keystone Phil]

PD - 28%
M5S - 18%
PdL - 17%

....

Hey, Italians at least keep it interesting.

[Keystone Phil]

The "Prime Minister preference" polls are utterly useless

Of course but it's still interesting. Any idea why Vendola wasn't registering enough support or not included in the poll?

[Keystone Phil]

And when is the primary? Every time I check for the exact date, I read that it hasn't been set yet but it's at the end of 2012.

[Keystone Phil]

And when is the primary? Every time I check for the exact date, I read that it hasn't been set yet but it's at the end of 2012.

25th of November.
The 2nd round two weeks after.

And now,Berlusconi is officially out.
PdL primaries on the 16th of December, with Alfano,Alemanno and Santanchè.
3 complete jokes.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Silvio is officially out? Did he announce it today? And what the hell is with having a primary right before Christmas?

Is Alfano favored to win? I want to say that I'd like to see Alemanno win but he's probably the least electable, right? And who is this Santanchè? I've seen the name before but don't remember why.

[Keystone Phil]

Oh, wow. Santanchè is a woman. This should be interesting!

[Keystone Phil]

There is a trend of having politicians with names of foreign countries or languages?

Santanchè? Spanish or Portuguese?

[Keystone Phil]

There is a trend of having politicians with names of foreign countries or languages?

Santanchè? Spanish or Portuguese?

No, Alemanno is a local local in Alsace/Swiss/Germany. Called Alemannic in English.

Really? Interesting. I was going to say Santanchè still seemed Italian but figured it was the most obvious of the three names to possibly be not-Italian.

[Keystone Phil]

There is a trend of having politicians with names of foreign countries or languages?

Santanchè? Spanish or Portuguese?

No, Alemanno is a local local in Alsace/Swiss/Germany. Called Alemannic in English.

Really? Interesting. I was going to say Santanchè still seemed Italian but figured it was the most obvious of the three names to possibly be not-Italian.

Well, no. Alemanno is an Italian word, but it means Alemannic in Italian.

Yes, of course. Like "Russo" also means "Russian."

[Keystone Phil]

Alemanno denied he'll run.
In the meanwhile Galan, former governor of Veneto and quite moderate, announced he'll run.

Btw, Santanchè is a complete joke. She was the candidate PM for The Right in 2008, then went back to PdL. She is only famous for her habit of openly insulting people, both on television and on the street.

Interesting about Galan. An Italian friend of mine who is awfully conservative (even by American standards) said he is likely supporting him.

Sounds like Santanchè is going to be a real treat!

[Keystone Phil]

Wow.  Vendola facing possible jail time. 
[url][http://touch.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-73036432//url]

Ouch!

[Keystone Phil]

So you finally committed to a candidate?

I think I'm rooting for Renzi. The writing seems to be on the wall for the General (though never underestimate their ability to collapse) and Renzi seems tolerable. Plus, I'm a grassroots/anti machine guy.

Hope Gallan has more of a web presence soon. I can't find much information.

[Keystone Phil]

And just by a total coincidence, two days after stating that he won't be a candidate, Berlusconi is sentenced to four years in prison for tax fraud.

[Keystone Phil]

And just by a total coincidence, two days after stating that he won't be a candidate, Berlusconi is sentenced to four years in prison for tax fraud.

And for 3 years he won't be able to hold any pubblic office.

Has he resigned yet? When is the prison term starting?

[Keystone Phil]

Oh wow. I didn't even know there were regional elections going on. Looks like FLI and MpA played a big role.

[Keystone Phil]

Btw, Crocetta is a gay poet, and a former communist.
Also fought mafia as a mayor of Gela.

Talk about an interesting candidate...

The new Vendola.

And when I said the FLI played a role, I meant the candidate that ran under the FLI and MpA banner.