Berlusconi to resign
 

There is a god after all.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15646536

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

The the old git with unnaturally black hair is going so bugger off, I cannot wait for Have I Got News For You.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

At last! Italy is saved from him and his stupid allies

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Good riddance l say to a man who has got as much morals as a sewer rat.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Well thats every sewer rat insulted :D

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

So it turns out bankrupting the entire country is where the Italians will draw the line...

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Good riddance!

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

It's not much of a resignation though - simply retiring from politics when the election comes round...

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

I was under the impression that it would be a matter of weeks?

Parliament needs to approve a package of cuts (which it's expected to approve). The vote was due in December, but will be brought forward, and could be as soon as next week.

Unless he does a U-turn, he's expected to step down after the vote?

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Looking at a number of different articles, it's as clear as mud. There is some suggestion the measures could be agreed in a marathon session running into the weekend. On the other hand it could be 'weeks', and conceivably, 'weeks' could lead to the other side of Christmas.

The only thing that's certain is that Silvo's departure hasn't stopped Italy's bond yields from passing the 7% mark that's widely regarded as the point where big bailout money is needed.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

He wont stand at the next elections, which are likely to be in February sometime.

So, you got a good 3 or more months of "herr slick"

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

They really should now be able to get their debt down now? Without having to buy Hair dye and Wet look Gel.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Don't like the bloke never have but italians seem to have a real love\hate relationship with the guy. Right now they want him gone but come next year who knows they might decide he is better then whoever replaces him and call for him to come back.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

That's simply Italian politics Rizzy. Until Silvo came along, the Italians had almost as many new governments as there have been years since world war 2.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Well, both the Senate and Parliament have approved the austerity package.

He could be out tonight :tu:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15703459

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Well if he does I feel sorry for all the lady's out there (he had enough in office)

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

is it ever that easy to shake off a sticky bogey ;)

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

England beating Spain seems more likely ;)

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

To be replaced, as in Greece, with a Euro-Quisling. A pyrrhic victory at best.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Not looking at the first 8 minutes as England have hardly got hold of the ball.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Erm, anything is better than the slimy toad that is Berlusconi.

Hopefully, Italy will get at least the semblance of a democracy.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

What Italy needs is a system that is less open to abuse and corruption..and that includes their government.:erm:

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

I think they like it that way. Lots of space to fiddle.

Uno mano si lava l'altro

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

You could be waiting a long time for that type of system as corruption and abuse has been endemic in the Italian political system for as long as l can remember.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Well there is no chance any austerity package will work whilst corruption is winked at.:erm:

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

l think that the Austerity package in Italy is just as doomed as it was in Greece and l think the only way out is that certain countries leave the single currency.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

I'm afraid I think there is little semblance of democracy in parachuting men whose first loyalties are clearly to the EU and its financial system into the Governments of supposedly sovereign member states.

The Northern League in Italy is quite correct, there must be immediate elections in that country.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Oh. I agree with that. But right now I'm happy to see the back of Berlusconi.

Either way: aren't elections due in a couple of months anyway?

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

They may be, but a determined man with a lot of executive power could do a lot of damage in that time. The fact that he has the opportunity now to do anything at all is intolerable IMO, given that the Italian electorate have been unable to debate or vote on any of it.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

I'm not that well-versed in Italian politics, but presumably you do need someone in charge once the PM steps down?

Obviously, the honourable thing to do would be to not pass any contentious legislation in the interim, but clearly this is Italy.

Also: would they be able to bring the election forward by much if they called it now?

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Silvo is going immediately under immense external pressure by Merkel and Sarko. I don't believe he would have gone before elections could have been held otherwise.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Is that in response to me? Cause if it is, it doesn't make any sense whatsoever :erm:

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

It was. ;)

What I was trying to say was, you may well need a replacement PM if the incumbent steps down, but the solution to that surely is not to pressurise the incumbent into stepping down. Hold elections instead, and allow the Italian people to choose their new PM at the ballot box. What we in fact have in Italy is an outrider from Brussels who only a matter of days ago wasn't even in the frame as a potential Italian PM, getting the top job and getting as many days as it takes to organise an election to do whatever Brussels, or rather France and Germany, tells him.

I truly think the world has failed to grasp yet the enormity of what is happening in Europe right now. Seldom has the undemocratic influence of the European Union and its financial system been laid so bare. No matter how bad things get, sovereign nations should not be having their heads of government imposed by external powers. One by one, the southern European members of the EU are becoming vassal states of a select few of the northern ones. It is very, very worrying indeed.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

No offence Chris seems like business as usual for the EU to me taking a situation and making the most of it for their own ends is exactly what i expect from the EU. As for merkel and sarkozy couple of bullies who now have the power to impose their will and neither of them from what i have seen are people we want with that sort of power.

Worrying times indeed and as usual the ordinary people within the EU will get sweet FA say in any of it having to rely on our so called leaders to do what is right. Never has opinion of our leaders been so low or the faith in them to do what is right for their respective countries more unlikely.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

He's gone.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

at last.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Good riddance to old perverts :p:

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Well the hair care products industry in italy will be in recession soon then lol. Am I the only one who everytime I saw him thought of boycie from only fools defo same barber.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Well, I don't quite share your cynicism.

Either way, we'll have to see what, if any, controversial legislation gets passed between now and the upcoming elections.

For now though: Silvio's gone, and that's got to be a good thing!

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Interesting comment there Rizzy .As one of the "ordinary people" i feel as though my life and my own country are being ruled by the EU elite .It seems as though individual countries cannot govern themselves anymore and need the permission of Merkel and sarkozy to do anything .It's about time governments stood up to them and told them where to get off ,they are acting like dictators of Europe and make me feel as though my own government who where voted in ,are answerable to Brussels,and by Brussels i mean France and Germany.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

I'm not sure I'd describe it as a good thing a democratically elected legislator being replaced by an appointed EU apparatchik.

I have no love for Berlusconi but this is an affront to democracy, a new PM who is a vassal to the EU, just to make it worse he's even an advisor to Goldman Sachs...

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

First: no-one has been appointed yet.
Second: someone needs to take the role.
Third: Assuming it's a done deal, one would assume that Silvio has approved the candidate, given that he's stepped down.
Fourth: We'll need to see what, if any, controversial legislation gets passed between now and the elections. I would hope none, but this is Italy...

The single fact that you don't like the proposed candidate is not sufficient to put him aside as an EU appointed apparatchik.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Ya.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Monti
http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/...nti/index.html

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

EU-appointed was the relevant bit. Post back when you have tangible evidence he was appointed Italian PM by the EU. Ta.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

I can post as I see fit within the rules, apologies if you find criticism of the undemocratic, corrupt, economically crippling disaster that is the EU offensive.

Tangible evidence, tricky, let's see what comes out over the next few days shall we?

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

I didn't mean to say you couldn't post as you see fit. It's no secret that Monti has a track record in Europe.

It's no secret either that he's a qualified economist, which would make him a sensible candidate.

Hell, I don't know what the candidates are (and I suspect you don't either), but it seems a little presumptuous to label him as an EU-appointed apparatchik just because he's held an EU post?

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Tad more than just an EU post - time will tell.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15695056

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Really, I'm not sure what the problem is.

Is it you objecting to the fact that he's a europhile, or do you share Chris's suspicion that he was put there by the EU?

Either way, someone needs to replace Berlusconi, and it appears that there's broad support for Mr. Monti in the Italian parliament. If there wasn't he'd be voted out in no time.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

He's there only while the current urgent economic situation is resolved then the parliament demand an election.

I share Chris's suspicion - it seems that the modus operandi is removal of the PM and replacement with a Europhile technocrat - see Greece and the PM foist on them by the Troika.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Interesting take here

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

This is the bit that worries me:

"Also, these are men familiar to leaders like Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel, because of the institutions at which they have worked."

Members of the Inner Circle and known to be totally familiar and sympathetic with long-term EU aims.

Re: Berlusconi to resign
 

Yes, I did spot that. However, as it also says in that article Italy is no stranger that technocratic governments. So assuming they were not unduly pressured into this particular choice, and given that Monti his widespread support in parliament, it seems alright as a short-term fix.