The Economist Beats Berlusconi

Many moons back in 2001, the Economist magazine displayed a picture of a pensive Berlusconi on its front cover, along with the statement: ‘Why Silvio Berlusconi is unfit to Lead Italy’.

Mr Berlusconi took umbrage to the undertones of this heinous insinuation, and promptly took the revered publication to court on accusations of defamation, and lost! Read more

Sleeping with the Enemy?

Italy’s two main political parties are often shortened by the media to the PD and the PDL. At times it is difficult to understand which political party is being referred to. Recently, things have become much more confusing.

At the best of times Italian politics is a confused muddled affair. Indeed, things are becoming so darned confused that the supposedly right wing likes of Umberto Bossi, the head of Italy’s radical Northern League party, plus party stalwart, and Italian minster for reform, Roberto Calderoli, participated in a rally organised in Florence by Bossi’s supposed political opponents - the PD. Doesn’t Mr Bossi lean towards Silvio Berlusconi’s bunch? Well, he still does, although after this news, one has no idea for how much longer. Or is something more sinister at work. Read more

Admiral Veltroni v Admiral Berlusconi

Veltroni’s latest attempt to sink Berlusconi’s ship is a petition against Italy’s charismatic and controversial prime minister.

Think of Italy’s main political parties as having been two moderately large ships. At the same time, all the little Italian political parties were a bunch of mercenary gunboats who would side with whichever of the biggest ships looked strongest at the time. Read more

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