[AzSteven]

The close race revealed deep splits in Italy and raised the spectre of chronic political instability in the months ahead.

Italy has had like 50 or more governments since the end of WW2 - I think that 'spectre of chronic political instability' is a lot more solid than the usual ghost.

[dfwgator]

"If you don't like the government here in Italy, give it a week."

[Ingtar]

Last count had them losing. I guess enough votes "appeared" at the end to push them over?

[Alter Kaker]

Italy has had like 50 or more governments since the end of WW2 - I think that 'spectre of chronic political instability' is a lot more solid than the usual ghost.

Actually, Italy has one of the most stable governments in the world. What keeps changing are the figureheads at the top, but the bureaucrats and decisionmakers and most of the senior leaders have remained astonishingly consistent, despite the frequent formation and collapse of political coalitions. That's one of the reason why Italy is today, despite the recent malaise, one of the very richest countries in the world (especially north of Rome), not the third-world hell hole it was (believe it) when I was there in 1947.