Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Italy: Milan tie, a "slap" for Berlusconi

"A slap" is what qualified as the setting of unfavorable ballot right in Milan, home of Silvio Berlusconi, in an editorial in one spot on the Milan daily Il Corriere della Sera, Tuesday, May 17 While the Italian leader had made the municipal election a test of popularity, it weakens the alliance critical of his party, the People of Freedom (PDL, center right), with the Northern League.

To everyone's surprise, the candidate of the party of Mr Berlusconi, the outgoing mayor Letizia Moratti, to 41.6% of the vote, was widely anticipated by the candidate of the left, the lawyer Giuliano Pisapia (48%) during the first round of partial municipal Italian Sunday and Monday. Surprise Milan, Pisapia ahead, "titreIl Corriere della Sera.

"The tie in Milan is humiliating, especially for Silvio Berlusconi, who made the outcome a referendum on his person and his government. He received a slap personal and political," wrote columnist Massimo Franco. In anticipation of the second round scheduled for May 29 and 30, this result "does provide for a period of instability and other regulations into account the center-right" that Mr Berlusconi "can become the scapegoat" , announced he.

A view shared by Franco Pavoncello, professor of political science at American University John Cabot in Rome: "This surprising result is negative and initiate a crisis within the government," he says. Despite a sharp decline in his popularity fell to 31% in April, Cavaliere, born in the country's economic capital where he made his fortune, was personally involved in the campaign to support Mrs.

Moratti, presenting himself as head of list. Speaking to elected Sunday, Mr Berlusconi had deemed "unthinkable not to win in Milan," saying that his coalition, which combines the LDP in the Northern League is the "only moderate force". Weakened by multiple legal proceedings in which the case of Rubygate, a sex scandal for which he is held since April 6, the Cavaliere impérativment need the support of the League, which the North is the bastion for the survival of his government .

For Franco Pavoncello, "it's a little early at the end of the coalition. Within the league, one begins to question the validity of the alliance with Berlusconi is it an advantage or a handicap? " The League has leaked on Monday night, his frustration over the entourage of its leader, Umberto Bossi, that staying with the League Berlusconi loses ground.

So, Professor Pavoncello not hesitate to say that "the League, if Milan were to fall, would withdraw from the government," which could cause the fall. However, the editor of Corriere della Sera, Massimo Franco, is much more cautious perspective the blow: "In two weeks, the ballots in the return could win a majority, which yesterday [Monday] in Milan and Naples [where the right is in favor of waivers], missed the victory by over-confidence and aggressiveness.

" Meanwhile, the Left, accustomed to defeats against Berlusconi, do not sulk his pleasure: "The figures clearly show that we win and lose, welcomed Pier Luigi Bersani, head of the Democratic Party (PD, left ), the main opposition. He cites the victories of the left in the first round, Bologna and Turin.

The continued silence of Silvio Berlusconi is even more eloquent about the impact of the results of the weekend. "The fairy tale is over, commented, lapidary, the editor of the leftist newspaper La Repubblica, Massimo Giannini. The response of voters is clear: the President of the Council has lost its referendum." Same story in the pages of moderate daily La Stampa, owned by Fiat, which describes a Cavaliere "disappointed, bitter, astonished": "The fortress showing cracks visible Berlusconi," the paper concludes.

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