Italy 2013: The official thread

[Keystone Phil]

The vote better take place in 2013 (and I'm assuming it will) since I won't have much to follow that year on this side of the Atlantic. Should be highly entertaining, as usual.

And they're going with a new system? Well, at least it will make more sense than what it is now.

[Keystone Phil]

Oh, Vendola isn't doing well anymore? Part of me would love to have him as the Left's standard bearer and the other part of me worries that he'd end up being Prime Minister.

[Keystone Phil]

Formigoni just survived a no confidence vote. Is he still trying to position himself to lead the PdL or am I way behind?

[Keystone Phil]

What's so bad about the Five Star Movement?

It's literally a joke party.

This really is going to be fun (but possibly very embarrassing) to watch.

[Keystone Phil]

I remember playing around on the Interior website a few years ago. Just as I remembered: my Mom's side in Sicily was just barely left leaning (one of the few areas, right?) in 2008 and my Dad's side in Campania was right leaning. 2006 was a landslide win for the left in my paternal side's town, with Prodi's coalition getting a whopping 65% yet Prodi and Co. only won 54%-46% in my maternal side's town.

[Keystone Phil]

So Vendola is now seen as a typical politician? Great. Maybe I'll root for him to win. It would be great to see him lose a General.

[Keystone Phil]

...and Maroni is now officially leading Lega Nord.

[Keystone Phil]

What's this I'm seeing about the electoral reforms and Napolitano?

[Keystone Phil]

Monti has stated that he will not be a candidate in the next election. Sort of surprising (to me at least) that he even made the announcement. I thought it was understood that he wouldn't run.

[Keystone Phil]

So Monti would have run under Terzo Polo?

[Keystone Phil]

So Monti would have run under Terzo Polo?

The Terzo Polo is dead,as Casini said,but a centrist coalition built around Monti was UDC's dream scenario.
And a few people in PdL and PD liked it as well,I think.

I know, I know.    I'm just asking if Monti was going to run, would Terzo Polo be his coalition.

[Keystone Phil]

It will never end - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/silvio-berlusconi/9391524/Silvio-Berlusconi-set-to-run-again-to-become-Italian-prime-minister.html

[Keystone Phil]

Well, I just read Vendola announced on Wednesday that he's running in the primaries.  Any news on what his prospects seem to be right now, Antonio?  Have any other candidates declared?

It was mentioned earlier that Vendola apparently isn't much of a factor anymore. Of course, Bersani is also a candidate.

[Keystone Phil]

Well, I just read Vendola announced on Wednesday that he's running in the primaries.  Any news on what his prospects seem to be right now, Antonio?  Have any other candidates declared?

It was mentioned earlier that Vendola apparently isn't much of a factor anymore. Of course, Bersani is also a candidate.

Has Renzi made up his mind ?

I didn't know he was a rumored candidate. I also don't know much about him aside from the fact that he's the Mayor of Florence. Maybe italianboy can help us with this one...

[Keystone Phil]

I think Bersani is the safe bet. Though, aside from Prodi, we have seen what safe bets have gotten the Italian Left...

[Keystone Phil]

Well, that PdL surge was certainly short lived and the jokers are rebounding. My God...

[Keystone Phil]

August 29th IPR poll:

PD - 26%
PdL - 20%
M5S - 15%
UdC - 7%
IdV - 6%
SEL - 6%
LN - 5%
FLI - 2.5%
FdS - 1.5%
LD - 1%
Others - 10%

[Keystone Phil]

I saw Matteo Renzi, the Mayor of Florence, on the cover of a magazine with a sub headline mentioning Bersani. Does anyone know if he is running in the PD leadership primary?

[Keystone Phil]

Looks like he's running.

[Keystone Phil]

I have some...eh...well connected friends in the party. I visited them yesterday and they were saying how Berlusconi had a big speech today (which they unfortunately had to miss). They didn't tell me it was his official reclaiming of the leadership speech though.

Speaking of PdL and my visit...

[Keystone Phil]

Goddamit.  Message to the center-left primary voters:
Get your ing acts together and nominate Vendola

Uh...he has to be the least electable, dude.

[Keystone Phil]

He skipped the youth rally and is struggling with indecision. Many supporters are pissed that he didn't attend - http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-italy-berlusconibre88d1bj-20120914,0,7153822.story

[Keystone Phil]

PdL is embroiled in a party expenses scandal in Lazio. The PdL Governor might actually resign over it even though party leaders, including Berlusconi, are urging her not to in hopes of avoiding an early election.

[Keystone Phil]

Goddamit.  Message to the center-left primary voters:
Get your ing acts together and nominate Vendola

Uh...he has to be the least electable, dude.

In terms of ideology, yes.  In terms of skill, campaigning abilities, and being able to get the votes of people who otherwise would not vote to vote, he's probably the most electable. 

Ok, that's fair. It certainly does take some skill to win as a gay Communist in Puglia. That said, it helped that the center-right was split. We'll see if that is the case nationally.

[Keystone Phil]

Thanks for passing that along, px. 

Yes, there will be new elections but they’ll coincide with next Spring’s General election. As long as Bonino isn’t the center-left candidate, I can breath easily.