[AzzurroItalia]

Hopefully, anyway.

In the last couple of weeks, the tension between the center-left partners of the Unione coalition has been increasing, and it may lead to the coalition's implosion just this week.

I'm sure most of you have heard of the Naples trash crisis, where thanks to Italy's incompetent Environmental Minister, Pecoraro Scanio, (who has opposed new incinerators for the region) the trash is piling up, and the region suffers in international embarrassment.

He is to face a vote of no-confidence on Wednesday, and judging by attitudes around the leftist coalition, it may be the one opportunity to finally bring down this abhorrent government. The political scene has really been moving, with Berlusconi and Veltroni (leaders of the center-right and center-left's largest parties, respectively) discussing possible electoral laws, which has met resistance from both sides of the spectrum. At the same time, other political groups are pressing for an upcoming referendum on the electoral law, which would make Italy a de-factor biparty system, like the USA. That's why the whole debate exists on the new electoral law, in an effort to thwart the referendum.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Clemente Mastella's wife has been arrested on corruption charges, causing the former to resign (and regardless, he has been questioned as well now), The ruling coalition is in uproar over whether to approve a draft legislation supporting Mastella against the judiciary. Mastella's UDEUR party threatens the government's collapse over it, and the smaller IDV ("Italia dei Valori") party attacks him and threatens the government itself.

Not everyone is supporting Scanio in his no-confidence motion - some senators have promised to vote against the minister regardless of the government's preference. UDEUR has called for Pecoraro Scanio to simply resign now before the vote. And of course, Veltroni and his "Democratic Party" have declared their intention to run on their own in the next general elections, urging Berlusconi to do the exact same thing.

This is going to be one of the most difficult weeks Prodi has ever faced. The whole coalition is in pieces (though in truth, both are). Hopefully this government's end has finally come, perhaps Italy can finally move towards an elections and free itself from the current political crisis.

Whatever happens - Romano Prodi's resignation is way overdue.