• Silvio Berlusconi Resigns as Italy PM, met with cheers in Italy
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[URL="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/berlusconis-resignation-met-with-cheers-in-italy/article2234563"]Source[/URL] [quote] Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi resigned Saturday after parliament’s lower chamber passed European-demanded reforms, ending a 17-year political era and setting in motion a transition aimed at bringing the country back from the brink of economic crisis.A chorus of Handel’s [I]Alleluia[/I], performed by a few dozen singers and classical musicians, rang out in front of the president’s palace as thousands of Italians poured into downtown Rome to rejoice at the end of Mr. Berlusconi’s scandal-marred reign. Hecklers shouted “Buffoon, Buffoon!” as Mr. Berlusconi’s motorcade entered and exited the presidential palace, where he tendered his resignation to President Giorgio Napolitano, the palace said in a statement. Respected former European commissioner Mario Monti remained the top choice to try to steer the country out of its debt woes as the head of a transitional government, but Mr. Berlusconi’s allies remained split over whether to support him. Their opposition wasn’t expected to scuttle Mr. Napolitano’s plans to ask Mr. Monti to try to form an interim government once Mr. Berlusconi resigns, but it could make Mr. Monti’s job more difficult. Mr. Napolitano is expected to hold consultations Sunday with all of Italy’s political forces before proceeding with his expected nomination of Mr. Monti. Late Saturday, Mr. Berlusconi’s party said it would support Mr. Monti, albeit with conditions. Mr. Berlusconi’s resignation was set in motion after the Chamber of Deputies, with a vote Saturday of 380-26 with two abstentions, approved economic reforms which include increasing the retirement age starting in 2026 but do nothing to open up Italy’s inflexible labour market. The Senate approved it a day earlier and Mr. Napolitano signed the legislation Saturday afternoon, paving the way for Mr. Berlusconi to leave office as he promised to do after losing his parliamentary majority earlier in the week. He chaired his final Cabinet meeting Saturday evening. Mr. Berlusconi stood as lawmakers applauded him in the parliament chamber immediately after the vote. But outside his office and in front of government palazzos across town, hundreds of curiosity-seekers massing to witness the final hours of his government heckled him and his ministers. “Shame!” and “Get Out!” the crowds yelled, many toting “Bye Bye Silvio Party” posters as they marched through downtown Rome in a festive indication that for many Italians, like financial markets, the time had come for Mr. Berlusconi to go. Berlusconi supporters were also out in force, some singing the national anthem, but they were outnumbered. Earlier in the day, Mr. Berlusconi lunched with Mr. Monti in a clear sign the political transition was already under way, news reports said. While the euroskeptic Northern League remained opposed to Mr. Monti’s nomination, some lawmakers suggested they could support a Monti-led government for a few months to enact the additional EU-demanded reforms before elections are held in early 2012. In a statement issued late Saturday, Mr. Berlusconi’s Peoples of Liberty party said its members would support Mr. Monti, but added that they would also ensure that Mr. Monti’s Cabinet, legislative agenda and the timeframe of his government meets their requirements. Mr. Napolitano appealed for lawmakers to put the good of the country ahead of short-term, local interests – an indirect appeal to members of Mr. Berlusconi’s party and the allied Northern League to work with the new government. “All political forces must act with a sense of responsibility,” he said. It was an ignoble end for the 75-year-old billionaire media mogul, who came to power for the first time in 1994 using a soccer chant “Let’s Go Italy” as the name of his political party and selling Italians on a dream of prosperity with his own personal story of transformation from cruise-ship crooner to Italy’s richest man. While he became Italy’s longest-serving post-war premier, Mr. Berlusconi’s three stints as premier were tainted by corruption trials and accusations that he used his political power to help his business interests. His last term has been marred by sex scandals, “bunga bunga” parties and criminal charges he paid a 17-year-old girl to have sex – accusations he denies. Italy is under intense pressure to quickly put in place a new and effective government to replace him, one that can push through even more painful reforms and austerity measures to deal with its staggering debts, which stand at €1.9-trillion ($2.6-trillion U.S.), or a huge 120 per cent of economic output. Italy has to roll over a little more than €300-billion ($410-billion) of its debts next year alone. Markets battered Italy this past week amid uncertainty that Mr. Berlusconi would really leave and questions over whether Italy’s notoriously paralyzed parliament could rally around a replacement. But Italy’s borrowing rates pulled back after Mr. Napolitano made clear he intended to tap the politically neutral economist Monti to try to head an interim government to push the reforms through. The yield on benchmark Italian 10-year bonds fell to 6.48 per cent Friday, safely below the crisis level of 7 per cent reached earlier this week. Greece, Ireland and Portugal all required international bailouts after their own borrowing rates passed 7 per cent. The Italian economy would not be so easy to save. It totals $2-trillion, twice as much as the other three countries combined. An Italian default could tear apart the coalition of 17 countries that use the euro as a common currency and deal a strong blow to the economies of Europe and the United States, both trying to avoid recessions. The head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, said Saturday that Italy’s political transition over the next few days should send a “clear sign of clarification and of credibility” that the country is now on the right path to get its finances back in order. Speaking to reporters in Tokyo, Ms. Lagarde had high praise for Mr. Monti, saying she had great esteem for the “quality” economist with whom she had long enjoyed a “extremely warm” and effective relationship. The IMF has a key role to play over the next few months in overseeing Italy’s efforts to pull itself back from a Greek-style economic disaster, monitoring how it implements reforms to rein in debt and spur growth, which is projected at a scant 0.6 per cent this year and 0.3 per cent next year. Amid market turmoil last week, Mr. Berlusconi was forced to ask for IMF monitoring of Italy’s finances, a humiliating prospect for the eurozone’s third-largest economy and an embarrassment for the long-defiant Berlusconi. The premier, however, received a warm sendoff from one of his closest pals, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who called Mr. Berlusconi “one of the last Mohicans of European politics” who had brought political stability to Italy. [/quote]
If he brought political stability to Italy, then why'd everyone want him out? Well, besides the sex scandals.
[QUOTE=A B.A. Survivor;33249383]If he brought political stability to Italy, then why'd everyone want him out? Well, besides the sex scandals.[/QUOTE] Because he fucking hates his own country.
[QUOTE=A B.A. Survivor;33249383]If he brought political stability to Italy, then why'd everyone want him out? Well, besides the sex scandals.[/QUOTE] cause corruption
[QUOTE]“Buffoon, Buffoon!”[/QUOTE] An amazing degree of politeness for the end of a 17-year reign of terror.
[QUOTE=A B.A. Survivor;33249383]If he brought political stability to Italy, then why'd everyone want him out? Well, besides the sex scandals.[/QUOTE] Because he's corrupt, criminal scum who'd gladly slaughter a hundred children if it meant increasing his vast wealth.
[QUOTE=Miskav;33249817]Because he's corrupt, criminal scum who'd gladly slaughter a hundred children if it meant increasing his vast wealth.[/QUOTE] He was corrupt, not evil. He was also trying to sort out he corruption in the Italian justice system.
I'm liking the sound of the apparently forthcoming technocrat government, they need experts to turn the country around quick before they get fucked
So he resigned after 17 years of leadership, eh? Not a surprise, he doesn't do anything over 17 anyway
[QUOTE=A B.A. Survivor;33249383]If he brought political stability to Italy, then why'd everyone want him out? Well, besides the sex scandals.[/QUOTE] Oh I dunno maybe because he said “I’m leaving this shit country that makes me feel like puking” a few months ago. Or the fact that he is generally regarded as a massive fool on the world stage and sleeps during important world meetings? Or maybe its just because he is the longest serving Italian leader since Mussolini?
[QUOTE=Samiam22;33253176]So he resigned after 17 years of leadership, eh? Not a surprise, [b]he doesn't do anything over 17 anyway[/b][/QUOTE] Fucking bitches is hard work.
Now our country must prepare for the worst, left-wing parties are missing any kind of political plans.
That's basicly the real deal. Berlusconi left, but who's going to substitute him? Is he going to be better or worse than him?
[QUOTE=Loures;33256933]Now our country must prepare for the worst, left-wing parties are missing any kind of political plans.[/QUOTE] If I recall, wasn't Berlusconi from the mainly Conservative parties? Shouldn't this be a good opportunity for the Italian Left?
I never knew much about him, but I read a report on him on Sky News. I never knew he had such a shitty career, I lost count of the amount of times he had to resign. No doubt he will be back after this one at some point.
Whichever way it is, the recent corruption and sex scandal made the people of Italy angry and want him out. Didn't matter what he has done for the country, once the people don't like you, you're history. But what is he going to do with all his money? My guess, more sex parties!
It was about time. He resigned but he also asked to mantain his TV channels. He own and broadcast 6 channels, while in italy every corporation of any sort can only have 2. Also, being president, allowed him a degree of influence over the 3 national television channels, making he own 92% of the whole information. You know that is wrong..
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