Left celebrates after Berlusconi's coalition defeated (local elections)

[papau]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/italy/story/0,12576,1249559,00.html

Left celebrates after Berlusconi's coalition defeated in stronghold

Sophie Arie in Rome Tuesday June 29, 2004 The Guardian

If, as Silvio Berlusconi likes to say, Italian politics is like a game of football, then his side has just taken a severe beating on its home ground. <snip>

Results from weekend local elections showed Milan, Italy's wealthy industrial capital and the prime minister's home town and traditional stronghold, had swung dramatically to the left.

Filippo Penati, of the Democrats of the Left, won 53.8%, kicking out the Forza Italia provincial president, Ombretta Colli. Overall, the centre-left won 14 of the 22 provinces up for grabs, turning the tables on the centre-right which had held 13 provinces to the left's nine.

The defeat comes just a fortnight after the left won European elections in Rome. Forza Italia dropped four percentage points overall in the European election. <snip>

"Berlusconi is still in the saddle," wrote Corriere della Sera newspaper. "But the horse is very, very unruly."

[bluestateguy]

When is Berlesconi himself up for re-election?

In other words, when do the Italian troops get to come home from Iraq?

[papau]

2. Not until 2006 does our Bush buddy face the voters

If his control lasts that long.

:-)

[papau]

1. Above Guardian version of story in Telegrath - DU link below

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=652771&mesg_id=652771

The Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi suffered one of the worst setbacks of his political career yesterday when he was badly defeated in local elections, including in his provincial stronghold around Milan.

In two rounds of elections his centre-Right coalition, which swept to national power three years ago with the largest majority in post-war history, lost 52 out of 63 provincial council contests. The centre-Right also lost 22 out of 30 mayoral races.

Critics said the defeats, coming three weeks after similar humiliations in European elections, signalled the beginning of the end for the media tycoon-turned-politician's political empire.

Both results are being seen as emblematic of growing national dissent over the prime minister's showy style of politics, known as Berlusconismo.

more…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/06/29/wberl2...

[4_Legs_Good]

3. w00t!

Once we're rid of Berlusconi, Bush and Howard, the world will be a much better place.

I'm glad we're making progress!

david