Berlusconi Doesn't Concede Defeat Despite Court Ruling

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/19/world/europe/19cnd-italy.html?hp&ex=1145505600&en=1651450ed147deff&ei=5094&partner=homepage

ROME, April 19 — Italy's highest court upheld today the narrow victory of Romano Prodi to become the next prime minister, but there were signs that Silvio Berlusconi, the current prime minister, would still not concede defeat.

Mr. Berlusconi made no public comment the immediate hours after the Court of Cassazione released its final count of last week's bitterly contested elections at 6 p.m. local time. But several of Mr. Berlusconi's aides suggested that the court's decision was not good enough, as some critics wondered if Italy's political crisis was worsening from stalemate to hostile takeover bid.

"We acknowledge the decision," said Sandro Bondi, national coordinator for Mr. Berlusconi's Forza Italia Party. But, he said, "the reservations we advanced continue to stand."

Earlier in the day, Mr. Bondi floated a proposal that some political experts believe is the real force behind Mr. Berlusconi's reluctance to acknowledge the election results. He suggested that Mr. Berlusconi be made the president of Italy — a position that would give him great prestige, keep him in politics and allow him to protect any attack by a new government on his vast holdings in media, publishing and sports.

[marmar]

1. I suppose I'd fight like a cornered rat if I was facing prison too...

Silvio, don't go away mad. Silvio, just go away.

[napi21]

2. Shrub's advisors must be talking to him! n/t

[saltpoint]

3. Maybe Tony Snow is just a fake and a bluff, and the press job is going to

Silvio.

I think it's probably a good role for him, too. We need a White House press secretary with a Messianic complex.

:sarcasm:

[Patsy Stone]

4. He learned from the best.

Don't relinquish control even if you've lost.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. When is there supposed to be transfer of power?

[Greeby]

6. Does this mean law enforcement can go in and drag him out?

Hope so :popcorn:

[Cha]

7. :)

:toast: to :popcorn:

[Arugula Latte]

8. Yo, Silvio: You lost. Get over it! n/t

[saltpoint]

9. A couple of cement shoes and a night boatride into the Adriatic might

be a consideration if he continues to huff and puff.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. Psst, Berlusconi, you wanna buy a Supreme Court?

[Swamp Rat]

11. It won't be long before they come for him with pitchforks and torches n/t

[NNN0LHI]

12. Thats probably what it is going to take to pry him out of there n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

14. The Italians can get testy.

[ladjf]

13. Could this be a glimpse of our political situation in Nov. of 2008?

[tom_paine]

15. We'll be lucky if that is all we face

Do you really think the Busheviks will be so foolish as to not steal enough votes (as apparently Berlusconi couldn't, Italian electronic "voting" being in it's infancy still)?

Keep your eyes on the Amerikan "elections" in 2006. Bush and the Busheviks are reviled by at least 2/3rds of the nation, and yet (sadly) with the extreme gerrymandering, the widespread disenfranchisement, voting machine shortchanging and "glitches" which coincidentally favor one side all the time, it is almost certain the Busheviks will maintain control of the Imperial Congress.

Maybe they will cough up a seat or two in order to delay people's realization that we have no vote nor say in national Imperial politics.

But DON'T expect them to relinquish power when they ahve spent so much time and money rigging things so they never have to.

[ladjf]

16. You are probably correct in your assessment. However, there

is a possibility that they have not been able to rig enough precincts to overcome a Democratic landslide. As you have said, the 2006 election will be the key. If they win that one and retain both houses with comfortable majorities, we probably will never see another legitimate National election in our lifetime.