Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:08 pm
What's the next step for Italy? What's expected to happen? I'm not familiar with the government problems in Italy, but you sound ecstatic about it!
Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:01 pm
They have elections.
Consider it as if Stephen Harper's government fell.
Consider it as if Stephen Harper's government fell.
Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:51 am
We're not sure we're gonna have elections right away. There is a possibility an interim government will be formed with the only chore of changing the current electoral laws (implemented by the 61st government), which create thin and inconsistent majorities leading to what just happened (that is the fall of the government).
I'm truly happy this government finally fell since the only thing the majority parties seemed to be interested to do was raise the taxes (of course a big portion of that money wasn't used for the good of the country) and bring back sixty-year-old Communist laws and decrees "for the good of the people". The poor people that lived "five horrible years under evil center-right-capitalist rule".
I'm hoping something big happens, like a radical change in the form of government, from Parliamentary to Federal republic. But, of course, that will never happen, since we would be "too American" and "American is bad", not to mention the fact that the Southern regions would starve.
I'm truly happy this government finally fell since the only thing the majority parties seemed to be interested to do was raise the taxes (of course a big portion of that money wasn't used for the good of the country) and bring back sixty-year-old Communist laws and decrees "for the good of the people". The poor people that lived "five horrible years under evil center-right-capitalist rule".
I'm hoping something big happens, like a radical change in the form of government, from Parliamentary to Federal republic. But, of course, that will never happen, since we would be "too American" and "American is bad", not to mention the fact that the Southern regions would starve.
Sat Jan 26, 2008 4:04 am
If Berlusconi somehow resurfaces, I don't see how that's winning.
Sat Jan 26, 2008 4:19 am
^Well, if the center-right wins the elections (which is very likely to happen) it wouldn't be just Berlusconi to resurface (Not that it's a bad thing, in my opinion it's a big step forward from the current situation).
What I mean is, Prodi's been the prime minister for twenty months and he/his party have decided nothing, it was mostly the other center-left parties and their leaders who emanated the new laws/decrees (and proposed new laws/decrees) and made the most changes in the government.
What I mean is, Prodi's been the prime minister for twenty months and he/his party have decided nothing, it was mostly the other center-left parties and their leaders who emanated the new laws/decrees (and proposed new laws/decrees) and made the most changes in the government.
Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:58 am
A story related from a columnist who was there the last time it happened:
ME: There's no government?
(Italian) Barman: Right.
ME: So what are we going to do?
Barman: God willing it'll last until January and we won't pay taxes...