Berlusconi resigns amid crisis

[Ferran]

Berlusconi resigns amid crisis

Wednesday, April 20, 2005 Posted: 1:14 PM EDT (1714 GMT)

Berlusconi addresses the Senate in Rome on Wednesday.

ROME, Italy (CNN) -- Caught in a political crisis and facing a vote of no confidence in the Senate, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has handed in his resignation to Italian President Carlo Ciampi after telling senators he planned to form a new government with different coalition partners.

Berlusconi's office confirmed Wednesday he had resigned. Ciampi's office was expected to issue a statement soon.

In an address to senators, Berlusconi recalled the challenges his government has faced over the past four years, including international terrorism following the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, and said he was proud of the way those challenges have been handled.

Now, the country is facing "a difficult phase," Berlusconi said. "Not more than two weeks ago, the country was giving signs of unrest and disquiet, which were very important. I understand these signals, and I wanted to give a political response."

Berlusconi was to face a no-confidence vote Thursday. His ruling coalition ran into trouble recently when his Forza Italia party lost 11 of 13 regional elections and the Union of Christian Democrats, a coalition party, quit the coalition.

His government is the 59th Italian government since 1949, but the longest-serving in modern times. Its five-year term was not due to end until 2006.

But Berlusconi's popularity has declined as the Italian economy has slipped and opposition to Italian involvement in the U.S.-led war in Iraq has increased.

Berlusconi, a staunch ally of U.S. President George Bush, said last month Italy's 3,000 troops in Iraq may begin a partial withdrawal this fall.

The country's contingent is the third-largest force among U.S. allies in Iraq, behind Britain and South Korea. Twenty-eight Italians have died in the conflict -- 21 military personnel, six civilians and one intelligence officer.

In his speech Wednesday, Berlusconi said: "What is happening is natural, and I don't want to dramatize artificially a very complicated situation." But he pledged to form a new government that will serve as a "unifying force."

Sources told CNN Ciampi was expected to begin consulting with political leaders to assess the situation, and plans to continue through Friday.



Source: http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe...oni/index.html

[Figlio della Lupa]

Whatever the outcome is, it most definitely will not be to the Italian people's advantage.

[trinacria]

Overall, I liked him. He didn't really rub me the wrong way though I didn't agree with many of the things he did. But I found him to be a likeable person.

To reiterate what Matteo said: it will never be to our advantage.

[Strengthandhonour]

I did not see that coming. But somehow, I fear of what is to happen next. More lefties taking over? I sure hope not. The last time it was "to our advantage" was when Il Duce was around, and those are times lost and forgotten..maybe one day..but not with this type of scum running the country...Bastardi Di Merda!

[etoile noir]

"In his speech Wednesday, Berlusconi said: "What is happening is natural, and I don't want to dramatize artificially a very complicated situation." But he pledged to form a new government that will serve as a "unifying force.""

it doesen't look like he's resigning at all. to me it looks more like - i'm getting bored of these tiresome partners in my coalition, thus i'm resigning and will be back with a new coalition - naturally headed by same berlusconi.

basically yet another berlusconi game - which evidently he can play.

[Phlegethon]

Better some PRC Stalinists in power than this degenerate, megalomaniac corrupt mafioso.

Dispossess Berlusconi and use the money to get unbribable judges and prosecutors!

[etoile noir]

Originally Posted by Phlegethon

Dispossess Berlusconi and use the money to get unbribable judges and prosecutors!

are there any? well yes, i'm sure there are, but in reality will they be allowed to follow their principles?

i remember the "tangentopoli" scandal, followed by the "mani puliti" exercise, where many brave and idealistic people really tried to do away with bribes and other scandals relating to the italian judiciary and to politicians - without much success.

maybe the italians here can shed more light on the matter?

[Phlegethon]

Originally Posted by etoile noir

are there any?

I am sure there are a few of them left, but most of them tended to end up with concrete shoes in harbours, in the concrete foundation of government buildings, in acid containers, perforated by hundreds of bullets on the pavement or blown into thousands of pieces on some backwoods country road. It is not exactly a family-friendly job, that's for sure (but neither is being a nationalist activist).

[Figlio della Lupa]

Originally Posted by etoile noir

maybe the italians here can shed more light on the matter?

It sickens me beyond belief....I view this sort of thing with an "indifferent disgust". These corrupt judges and politicians have brought alot of shame to our country. If a judge or politician is an honest man, he will not get very far in his field. It is sadly imbedded in the culture of the Italian banana republic. This goes for both the right and the left. They are all corrupt. They all have Mafia connections. Period.

[trinacria]

Ben detto. Well said.