Italy 2013: The official thread

[Keystone Phil]

Still no word on a PdL-favored candidate?

Berlusconi,duh.

Ok but are they actually going to nominate him and would he accept when he'd definitely lose?

[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

[Keystone Phil]

Over 30% still support Bersani? Only four points behind the boy wonder? Is this a late April Fools joke poll?

[SPQR]

LOL,there won't be new primaries.
Renzi will be the candidate PM,Barca will work within the party to sharply change it,Bersani will be home.

[minionofmidas]

Over 30% still support Bersani? Only four points behind the boy wonder? Is this a late April Fools joke poll?

No, it's just a party with well defined factions, almost like the LDP and the DC of yore.

[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

[Antonio the Sixth]

God, the PD establishment are really a bunch of retards.

[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

[Antonio the Sixth]

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

More likely to be one of the old bigwigs IMO (people like D'Alema and all).

[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.

[batmacumba]

Young! Against bureaucracy! Outsider! Media circus around! Yeeeeaaaaayyyyyy!!!

I may be wrong, but such things unavoidably smells Collor to me.

[Keystone Phil]

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

Well, the flirtation with Meloni was fun while it lasted but I think we all knew this was coming.

[Iannis]

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

I'm not sure in case of Renzi candidacy for PD

[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.

[Keystone Phil]

He may want Bonino? I wonder what deal is being worked out there. What a horrible possibility.

[RogueBeaver]

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

[Keystone Phil]

Looks like the Grillini are going with a woman for President: reporter Milena Gabanelli. She won M5S' online vote. She released a statement saying she was "extremely moved and also overrated." No word if she will accept the nomination. If she doesn't, the party will keep moving down the list (in the order in which the candidates placed by vote total obviously) until someone accepts. This is supposedly the final blow to Prodi as PD was holding out hope M5S would support him as a compromise pick. Prodi finished second to last.

The actual Presidential voting begins on Thursday.

[Keystone Phil]

Grillo says if Gabanelli refuses, they're going with Stefano Rodotà. He supposedly has support within PD, too.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Yeah, Rodotà has been floated around a lot, and I think he could be a nice PD-M5S compromise candidate, as well as a morally irreproachable pick.

[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.