Italy Begins Voting on the Fate of Berlusconi

[Rose Siding]

ROME, May 9 — Italy began voting today for 945 members of its Parliament, but as has been the case here for years, the day was about one man alone: Silvio Berlusconi.

This time, in two days of voting, the issue is simply whether Mr. Berlusconi, the quirky dominating force in Italian politics, business and media, will keep his job as prime minister. Anything is possible, but after five years in office, a bad economy and a shrill campaign, Mr. Berlusconi did not seem to be basking in the voters' warm glow on this gorgeous spring day.
....
Today, Mr. Berlusconi did not disappoint anyone. He showed up at his polling station in his home city of Milan, in the north of Italy, with his tiny and beloved 95-year-old mother, Rosa, in tow — and before a flock of cameras rolling.

"Make a cross on the symbol of Forza Italia," he instructed her, referring to his political party.

An opposition election monitor informed Mr. Berlusconi that his statement violated the ban on public campaigning (The left has also accused him of violating the ban by sending out campaign text messages to cellphones over the weekend.) "Not even to my mother?" a smiling Mr. Berlusconi asked. "You really are the Italy that has no love."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/09/world/europe/09cnd-italy.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[movonne]

1. God, how I hope they bounce him out...by the way how is their voting

machines...do they have diebold?? if so Berlusconi will be a winner...

[fshrink]

2. My thoughts exactly. I don't

think any European countries, and I know that for sure for France, use anything else than paper-ballot. Someone counting, another someone re-counting and still other someones watching. With that, which is democracy basics, we wouldn't have what we have here and the world would be a safer place. Without that, Berlussolini would be no doubt re-elected.

[phoebe]

3. "quirky" isn't exactly what one would use to describe this mafia don.

n/t

[Judi Lynn]

4. Italy's Berlusconi Fights to Stay in Power

Italy's Berlusconi Fights to Stay in Power
Italians Cast Ballots in Final Day of Voting As Berlusconi Battles to Stay in Power

By FRANCES D'EMILIO

ROME Apr 10, 2006 (AP)— Italians returned to the polls Monday for a final day of voting to deliver a verdict on conservative Premier Silvio Berlusconi, the billionaire media mogul who failed to jump-start a flat economy as the nation's longest-serving premier since World War II.

Trying to oust the flamboyant Berlusconi from the premier's office was Romano Prodi, an economics professor and former European Union chief who defeated him for the premiership in 1996.

Polls were not allowed to be published in the two weeks before the vote, but earlier surveys gave a slight edge to Prodi.
(snip)

Surveys had shown that much of the electorate was unenthusiastic about the race.

Linda Mille, a doctor, said Sunday that she voted for the center-left to boot Berlusconi out of power: "I don't think there can be anyone worse than Berlusconi."
(snip/...)

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1825167&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312