January 24, 2008
Center-Left Italian Government Falls
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi -- the man who beat the conservative Forza Italia and centrist UDC in 2006 by one-tenth of one percent in the vote -- has just lost a vote of confidence and has resigned, taking his brittle coalition government down with him:
Italian Premier Romano Prodi resigned Thursday after his center-left coalition lost a Senate confidence vote, a humiliating end to a 20-month-old government plagued by infighting.
Calling early elections or asking a politician to try to form another government are among President Giorgio Napolitano's options as head of state. Until he decides, Prodi will stay on in a caretaker role.
Elected in April 2006, Prodi has had a shaky government from nearly the start. It lurched toward collapse this week after a small Christian Democrat party, whose votes were vital to his Senate majority, yanked its support in the latest coalition spat.
And speaking of spats...
The government lost 161-156 after a fiery debate during which one senator was spat upon, fainted and had to be carried out on a stretcher.
So... any chance we can we get Silvio Berlusconi back?
Hatched by Dafydd on this day, January 24, 2008, at the time of 5:11 PM
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The following hissed in response by: Davod
"It lurched toward collapse this week after a small Christian Democrat party, whose votes were vital to his Senate majority, yanked its support in the latest coalition spat."
The gang of 14.
The above hissed in response by: Davod ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://biglizards.net/blog/nav-commenters.gif)
at January 25, 2008 12:19 AM
The following hissed in response by: Chris Hunt
Explain to me again the superiority of the parliamentary system, besides the gridlock.
The above hissed in response by: Chris Hunt at January 25, 2008 4:34 AM
The following hissed in response by: Geoman
So, when Silvio Berlusconi was booted wasn't that a repudiation of George Bush and his policies? Therefore, Prodi's ignominious exit would indicate...?
I notice the Socialist they got in Spain is in trouble too.
The above hissed in response by: Geoman at January 25, 2008 9:06 AM
The following hissed in response by: LarryD
Every now and then I give thanks that the Framers spared us from a parliamentary style of democracy.
They were quite familiar with it, and knew how fractious and divisive it was.
Plurality voting encourages people to build coalitions during election campaigns, instead of having to stitch a governing coalition together afterwards.
The above hissed in response by: LarryD at January 25, 2008 9:28 AM
The following hissed in response by: John Weidner
One thing not widely known about Italy is that local government there has much more power than in most countries. So even though the central government is about as dysfunctional as it can get, and has been forever, Italy still manages to muddle along.
It also helps that about half the economy is underground
The above hissed in response by: John Weidner at January 25, 2008 10:18 AM
The following hissed in response by: SR
I'll never forget being on a hiking tour of Sicily the day Prodi was elected. It was like Florida 2000 as he barely squeaked in. My Italian guide was a Prodi supporter. When I saw him again four years later, and asked him how things were working out, he shook his head sheepishly and admitted that things weren't going all that well. Social Democrats will just never learn.
The above hissed in response by: SR at January 26, 2008 11:34 AM
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