Today in Italy, following the crisis caused by the resignation of ministers from the Berlusconi party PDL, the President of the Council (of Ministers) Enrico Letta will request a vote of confidence from the deputies and senators for the government he leads.
If the result is secured in the Chamber of Deputies, without the vote of right-wing senators, a majority would not be possible in the Senate and thus Enrico Letta should logically resign and return his mandate to the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano.
But, as it was written, if… and only if there will be no “pidiellini” senators (the resigning ministers themselves?) and some elected members of the M5S (that of former comedian Beppe Grillo and IT guru Roberto Casalegno) who, in the secret of the ballot boxes or even by dissenting from their party’s directives, wish to support Enrico Letta. It would not be the first time in this case!
In any case, this day will be one of institutional chaos for Italy with possible and certainly harmful repercussions at the European level, perhaps even marking the beginning of the end of Silvio Berlusconi’s political career. In politics, beware of the defeated and heed the dogs that become wolves!
The resignation of five ministers from the People of Freedom of the government led by Democrat Enrico Letta on September 28th has thus caused a real political earthquake in Italy.
This personal choice of Silvio Berlusconi is almost unanimously criticized by the Italian press. The head of the PDL, Silvio Berlusconi, provoked this government crisis a few days before a Senate vote on his possible removal, following his conviction for tax fraud. Official reason: his refusal to endorse several budget measures, including the VAT increase which he himself triggered with the government crisis!
Ferruccio De Bortoli, director of the Milan daily Le Corriere della Sera, acts as the spokesperson for the “moderates” who constitute the core of his readership, but also of Silvio Berlusconi’s electorate, who are now “indignant”.
The irresponsible choice of Berlusconi and his loyalists […] has the bitter taste of reckless and desperate gestures. It serves no purpose. It does not alter a comma of the Cavaliere’s legal fate, but it takes a hostage country to the brink of a new precipice. The blow to the Letta government […] causes incalculable damage particularly to Berlusconi’s electorate, made up of families and businesses. […] The Cavaliere’s argument — an instinctive reaction to excessive taxes — is nothing but an insane pretext.
The director of La Stampa in Turin, Mario Calabresi, also mobilizes to say “basta” to a crisis deemed “useless and disastrous” :
The unexpected decision of Silvio Berlusconi to have his ministers resign to bring down the government is a very hard blow to our country. A humiliation that thrusts us into chaos, into a lack of credibility; that puts us back under surveillance, confirming all the worst prejudices about Italians. In 15 days, the 2014 budget will need to be presented, the key moment for those of us with fragile accounts; on November 15, European evaluations will fall; our debt rises dangerously; the IMF has spoken of the risk for Italy.
The Cavaliere recently announced the refoundation of Forza Italia, which should replace the PDL, deemed too undisciplined, in the upcoming elections.
In fact, Berlusconi still has political consensus and even more economic and media power. And he uses them, if not to impose his choices, to block those of others. One ultimatum after another. And before, to control dissent that spreads within his ranks. That’s why Berlusconi resists. Until the end. Because he fights for his political survival.
That’s why he wants to vote as soon as possible. Because, since its founding in 1994 until the last elections in February 2013, Berlusconi, an excellent propagandist and generous in populist promises, has always given his best during election campaigns. That’s why he has transformed political life into a permanent election campaign.
And today, to withstand external threats and internal tensions within the party, he needs new elections — as soon as possible.
But this time will he have the opportunity? Silvio Berlusconi is also the owner of the AC Milan football club, which he has always used as a showcase of his personal success.
He therefore knows the rules of the sport: isn’t he playing the match too much?
