Word: berlusconi
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...with great courage," was withdrawing his party's support for the fragile majority, opening the door to a government crisis. "Che coraggio!?" an Italian might say with an apt double meaning: "What courage?" and "What gall!" Just 24 hours later, Mastella was already being publicly courted by Silvio Berlusconi, ever-present opposition chief, Prodi archnemesis and former - and would-be future - Prime Minister. Despite its air of overwrought soap opera, Italy's latest government crisis is almost anticlimactic. Prodi took office in 2006 with a razor-thin majority in the Senate, backed by disparate allies who didn't trust each...
...closed-door coddling of allies in the government's 10-party coalition, he couldn't play even that card with much conviction. Twenty months of constant internal bickering, and a half-dozen near or real crises, have made Prodi's reign resemble the political version of Survivor. Even Berlusconi, who burst onto the political scene in 1994 with billionaire bravado, has become a shadow of his former self, talking obscure Roman political jargon and cutting deals with anyone who will help him win back power. That effort is undercut by the fact that Italians have now learned that mere survival...
...left from Prodi is Rome mayor Walter Veltroni. He talks the lofty rhetoric associated with American-style democracy - of change and courage - and cites Robert Kennedy and Barack Obama. But it is telling that Veltroni did not challenge the older Prodi for the right to lead the charge against Berlusconi in 2006, though he was far more popular. Instead, he waited his turn. Now that his moment is arriving, Veltroni should resist the temptation to cut deals with the leaders of small parties - the Mastellas of the left, right and center. If he goes it alone, it might...
...However the current drama shakes out, the long-term prospects for Italy's political life appear bleak. Since eking out a win in April 2006 over controversial media mogul Berlusconi, Prodi's reign atop a fractious nine-party coalition has been an example of Italy's endemic political paralysis. Prodi has been busy trying to fend off - and recover from - a half-dozen near-crises since taking office 20 months ago, rather than focus on much-needed reforms to the pension and justice systems. Meanwhile, state air carrier Alitalia bleeds money, and its hoped-for merger with Air France...
...characteristically proud and pedantic speech before Parliament on Tuesday, Prodi challenged his fellow politicians to vote him out publicly rather than cut deals behind closed doors. After the speech, Berlusconi ally Gianfranco Fini saw the speech as evidence that the battered Prime Minister was already starting to dust off his suit. "Prodi opened his [next] electoral campaign today," he said. This time, however, there may be no race left...