Italy 2013: The official thread

[SPQR]

Interesting that both chambers' presidents are from Sicily.

Who was Boldrini's main opponent in the Camera election?

She was elected in Sicily but is not from there.

[Franknburger]

It looks like both new speakers are "outsiders" and representatives of the "civil society". They seem to be admirable people (Boldrini apparently worked in the UN against poverty and Grasso was an anti-mafia magistrate). Great move by the PD.

How old are they? Can this be understood as a sign of generational change ?

[SPQR]

It looks like both new speakers are "outsiders" and representatives of the "civil society". They seem to be admirable people (Boldrini apparently worked in the UN against poverty and Grasso was an anti-mafia magistrate). Great move by the PD.

How old are they? Can this be understood as a sign of generational change ?

Boldrini is 51 (and pretty hot,tbh),Grasso is 68 if I am not wrong.

What's important is that they were chosen ahead of Franceschini and Finocchiaro,who were the initial proposals in case no agreement was found with M5S or Monti.

They are not very young but they are pure outsiders,both from politics and from PD (or SEL).

[Keystone Phil]

I honestly thought the pictures of Silvio wearing sunglasses were photoshopped jokes. Turns out he was really ballin' out on the Senate floor.

[RogueBeaver]

Renzi: Get on offense NOW, you're ceding all the initiative to Grillo. Hear, hear. Bersani's outreach is bordering on masochism right now. Were I him I'd go for a few days of pro forma consultations, return my mandate and prepare for the presidential vote. Then dissolve.

http://www.unita.it/italia/renzi-il-pd-all-attacco-funziona-1.489792

[RogueBeaver]

Monti and M5S tomorrow, PD and PdL on Thursday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/19/us-italy-vote-idUSBRE92I19U20130319

[Keystone Phil]

Along with all of this much more important drama, Renzi will be hosting the Creative Metro Economies meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (of which my mayor is president). The guy is really a center of attention on more than one front these days.

[RogueBeaver]

Renzi's prepping the knife, trying to ensure that if there's a snap poll it won't happen in June.

http://www.ilfoglio.it/soloqui/17404

[Antonio the Sixth]

Renzi's prepping the knife, trying to ensure that if there's a snap poll it won't happen in June.

http://www.ilfoglio.it/soloqui/17404

I'd also like the September option better, actually. That would ensure I'm in France and can properly cast my ballots.

Also, that would give the time to modify the electoral law and go to the polls with a half-decent system.

[RogueBeaver]

Agreed on the election date, but there's no sign of any formula all parties can agree on. Given how unstable things are right now they need to think of any electoral scenario which might befall them.

Also: Berlusconi said he'd bring his supporters out on the streets if a centre-left president is chosen.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Agreed on the election date, but there's no sign of any formula all parties can agree on. Given how unstable things are right now they need to think of any electoral scenario which might befall them.

Also: Berlusconi said he'd bring his supporters out on the streets if a centre-left president is chosen.

Good for him. Hopefully nobody gives a damn.

As for the electoral system... That's not an easy job, certainly. But I want to wait and see if they can come up with something reasonable.

[RodPresident]

Dario Fo for President... with PD and M5S support!

[jaichind]

IPR Poll

Berlusconi   31%
Bersani       28.9%
Grillo           24.5%
Monti            8.8%

SWG Poll

Berlusconi   30.2%
Bersani       29.7%
Grillo           26.9%
Monti            9.5%


 

[RogueBeaver]

Bersani will get a provisional mandate today.

[Keystone Phil]

IPR Poll

Berlusconi   31%
Bersani       28.9%
Grillo           24.5%
Monti            8.8%

SWG Poll

Berlusconi   30.2%
Bersani       29.7%
Grillo           26.9%
Monti            9.5%


 

Hahaha.

There's some mass PdL demonstration planned for today or tomorrow.

[RogueBeaver]

Can anyone say "Prime Minister-designate Bersani?" Probably a mouthful in Italian.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/italy-president-announce-who-will-form-new-govt

[Keystone Phil]

The Stand with Silvio rally in Piazza del Popolo is going on. Looks like they have a huge crowd.

[Keystone Phil]

Best sign at the rally: "Silvio, you are bigger than Julius Caesar."

[Zanas]

Laura Boldrini <=> Julia Gillard, anyone ?

What's with the drop in Grillo support in the last two polls posted by jaichind ? He seemed to top the race a few days before that.

[mappix]

Foreign minister Terzi resigned after the govt.'s mismanagement of the controversy with India about two Italian marines who killed Indian fishermen (supposedly in international waters) after mistaking them for pirates. The resignation of Terzi was negatively commented by the Defense minister Di Paola. Terzi (expert of international laws) refused to send the marines back to India but the government opposed his decision. Some even asked for Monti to be tried for high treason.
End of Monti's credibility perhaps.

Meanwhile the newly appointed president of the Chamber is furious for a renowned Italian songwriter said that the Parliament is "full of sl*ts willing to do anything (to get power), they should open a brothel".

[minionofmidas]

Why? Because he didn't think of it first?

[Zanas]

Meanwhile the newly appointed president of the Chamber is furious for a renowned Italian songwriter said that the Parliament is "full of sl*ts willing to do anything (to get power), they should open a brothel".

I didn't know Berlusconi was also a songwriter...

[Antonio the Sixth]

Meanwhile the newly appointed president of the Chamber is furious for a renowned Italian songwriter said that the Parliament is "full of sl*ts willing to do anything (to get power), they should open a brothel".

I didn't know Berlusconi was also a songwriter...

You learn something new every day.

[RogueBeaver]

M5S caucus unanimously voted not to support a Bersani government in either Camera or Senate. Womp womp.

[Antonio the Sixth]

M5S caucus unanimously voted not to support a Bersani government in either Camera or Senate. Womp womp.

Unanimously?