Italian Government in Danger of Collapse (Italy may suffer the same fate as Spain)

VOA News ^

[wk4bush2004]

Italy's longest post-war government risks collapse. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is in trouble after two small parties withdrew their support from the governing center-right coalition.

The centrist UDC party, which has four ministers in government, was the first to decide to withdraw its support from the center-right government. Then, the new Italian Socialist party, which has only two minor government posts, followed its example.

The parties had called on Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to resign and form a new government following heavy losses in regional elections earlier this month. Mr. Berlusconi refused and the parties pulled out.

The parties say they will still support Mr. Berlusconi in the parliament. But Italy's longest serving prime minister since World War II risks the collapse of his four party center-right coalition government.

After losing 11 out of 13 regions in local elections held at the beginning of April and with general elections coming up in 2006, Mr. Berlusconi has come under increasing pressure from his coalition allies.

Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini Thursday called on the prime minister to go the parliament next week with the government's platform and ask for a confidence vote.

Following the withdrawal of the two parties, the center-left opposition said Italy is facing a political crisis and Mr. Berlusconi must resign.

Romano Prodi, the prime minister's leading opponent, said the country needs a government that has the support of all the parties in the ruling coalition otherwise it's better to hold early general elections.

But Mr. Berlusconi says it will not be that easy for his opponents to get rid of him. However, his popularity has declined recently because of a poor economic situation and increasing opposition by the Italian public to keeping soldiers in Iraq.

[wk4bush2004]

This is not good. We're on the verge of losing another major ally.

We could lose Italy to the socialists just as we lost Spain.

[Rutles4Ever]

Cardinal Ratzinger has essentially given up on Europe as a Christian continent. It may very well become an Islamic/Socialist stronghold before long...

[2banana]

Well, it is about time, Italy changes government about the same rate as Philly politicians take bribes...

[Unam Sanctam]

Bummer!

[an italian]

Let me speak, my friends.

Italy is not like Spain. We are different.

First because we are not fold by a terrorist attack. Italian people, in that case, are really brave and proud of them self. And you can see that studying that in 70s we had the "red terrorism" and my country won it because my brave fellow Italians fought it: they didn't accept it, they never supported it. In short, it has never had success.

Than the situation is more complicated. In Italy we have had the Regional Election and the Left won. It's true. But you have to consider that we had the shorter affluence to the urns than ever: a lot of people, who in generals votes Right, didn't go to vote.

The Left was able to manipulated the situation: and today we can have a Government's crisis.

The problem is that we are divided into our same majority.

One thing more: if you lost Italy, Italy will lost by herself. We need any helps to help the Berlusconi's Government.

[wk4bush2004]

Well just do everything you can so the Left doesn't take power. Don't let your country lose its sovereigty to the EU by approving the constitution.

Italy is a wonderful nation and I am pleased that our countries have been able to work together against terrorism in Iraq and elsewhere.

[an italian]

I thank you for that. Really.

The Berlusconi's Government gave us back Dignity.

I'm young, but you can be sure of that: I will do whatever I can to fight Left. I fought it for years, defending the Iraq Freedom war. I have no fear.

[AnAmericanMother]

Bless you. My family has a special tie to Italy because my father fought there as a 19-year-old in 1943-1944. He loves the Italians and said that, man for man, they were the bravest soldiers around (it was not the individual soldiers' fault that they were poorly equipped and not always wisely led.) He made friends that he exchanged letters with for years, and he learned to speak Italian pretty well (with a Parmese accent).

My father and mother went back in 1994 to visit all the places that he was - and were met with open arms. They spent a happy two weeks travelling around from place to place, he remembered all his Italian, and enjoyed the wonderful food and wine and people.

I am sure that with good people such as you, Italy will be all right.

[an italian]

I hope it. Italy is a great Country and she merits great Dignity.

I thank you, and I thank your father. Everyones who fought and risked their life to defend Freedom of others people are heroes.

[aquila48]

As another Italian, I agree with you 100% about Berlusconi bringing back dignity to Italy.

He's a fighter and he's going to give them all they can handle.

[jla]

Thank you for posting that heartwarming recollection.
It was really nice to read.

[jla]

VIVA

L'ITALIA

[an italian]

ditto!!!

[an italian]

thank you. it's nice to see our flag in your forum...

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

"But you have to consider that we had the shorter affluence to the urns than ever: a lot of people, who in generals votes Right, didn't go to vote."

In the US, we call that "voter apathy". That happens when the leadership refuses to excite the base, the hard right. With excitement, the hard right will become a machine that drives you to victory.

[an italian]

I call it the stupid Italian Politics Philosophy...

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

Do Italians generally believe that Mussolini was left wing?

[an italian]

Oh no. To Italians the risk to vote Right is actually that: a revival of Fascism.

But the saddest thing is that: people are so used of their Freedom that don't go to vote. That don't understand that Freedom is participation. We are far from the roman Libertàs in Italy. That's the saddest thing.

[Grzegorz 246]

I think that Prrrodi is a piece of shit.