Chirac and Berlusconi have a lot in common: they both are shaken by scandals, they both have taken money for political decisions, they both want to extend their power on the costs of other European countries. I don´t like Chirac, but I don´t think he´s that dangerous as Berlusconi, because he has not that much of media power. I´m more concerned of manipulated people than of the personal deficits of politicians. I don´t hope Italy´s getting closer to the Russian situation of a "democratic dictatorship". Let´s not forget: Hitler came into office legally, too. We´re watching closely.
Anyway, what happened to the Italian Christian Democrats? They were not that successful since a dozen of years. The political landscape in Italy is a special science, lol.
Have you run for an office?