I with horror and shock heard that Silvio Berlusconi will run as candidate for Prime Minister again. The danger is that his party will get a majority again, as Mr Berlusconi promises his people an easy way ahead. A way ahead without cost-cutting programs, without saving money, without working, a kind of profitable dolce-far-niente. The other side has a good candidate on their top, but Berlusconi not only is a good showman, he also has the power of his own TV and radio companies behind him.

I think perhaps his main object is to change the laws so he does not face a trial for having sex with Ruby, who was a minor at the time.

... Amongst other illegal doings
JC

My wife does this all the time.

No -- I don't mean running for the Italian presidency, but creating terrible problems that don't actually exist in order to have something to worry about during those dull periods when things are going quite nicely.

It seems very unlikely that Berlusconi would dare try getting back into Italian politics. If he does officially stand, then let's deal with the fallout from your shock and horror.

The presidency is not at disposal and is in the hands of Giorgio Napolitano, the Italian State President. What Berlusconi wants is a majority for his party, so that he would become Prime Minister again. I hope that his party does NOT get the majority he needs and that he does not become Prime Minster again and gets denied the chance to damage his country further

However, in Italian he's called "Presidente del Consiglio", not "Primo Ministro" o sim.


He did not do damage to the country (at least not more than others), this is rather part of the Germanic superiority complex and linked stereotypes. Like the one that Italy would live on Germany's costs and all that crap.

http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soz...-a-872604.html


Berlusconi still holds kind of attractiveness from the people, despite his scandals (but hey, by comparison to e.g. Kennedy he's a crybaby on that issue), and I can understand why.

Actual title:

"Il presidente del Consiglio dei ministri della Repubblica Italiana"

Tom

Thinking it over,

I believe you can here "il premier Berlusconi" o "il premier Monti", but probably more on Swiss media or Euronews (in Italian) than in italian ones ...

How is the Italian title of the leader of the italien cabunet relevant to a discussion on Englishforum which is conducted in English? If you want us to change the way he is addressed, you need to quote English speaking media, which refers to this office in another way than prime minister.

It's difficult to infer tone from text alone, but it seems like you got out of the wrong side of bed. Anyway...

I seriously doubt that Berlusconi can rejuvenate Italy like has his own face successive surgeries... Check out his official photo



At 76, I wonder how much more they can stretch that skin across his forehead

Whatever title we use, the Italian Prime Minsiter is not elected by the people directly but needs a majority in parliament to get the job. And is NOT the "head of state" but the "head of government". The State President rather has a decorative and ceremonial role, while the political power is with the Prime Minister

While Berlusconi did not cause the problem in question, he for far too long did not react to the rapid deterioration. It only was Mr Monti, who started to make the required adjustments.

The serious problems in Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy were/are NOT caused by Germany. However, as Germany profited most of the E.U. and is the strongest nation in Europe, it is self-evident that the Germans have to finance the required improvements

No doubt about that. My point was that his intitulation as "President" might be not that wrong.


That's where I doubt however. And I mean: How could he readjust what went wrong for decades in only a year, particularly if international markets are involved.


Total disagree. Germany is not part of the solution, but part of the problem, as it makes profits out of the crisis i.e. has no real interest in a good solution, at least not till a certain point. The crisis is not about ridiculous Greek debts, but about institutional and political instability, lacking trust and international markets. And there Germany's role is crucial, whatever Greek economic situation is.

No, it's not that Laertes got out of the wrong side of bed, but it's that he's a German. I can smell them from miles away.


Kidding, just kidding ...


Anyhow, Mister B. without makeup is this

Aren't you German as well?

Tom

I think Silvio schould be given another chance...


After all who will we point the finger at without him...?


And a party man who livens up the booring meetings...

wasn't she 17 at the time? This wouldn't be illegal in many other european countries.

try telling that to the Germans (especially taxpayers who pay 50%+ income tax already)

Why are you interested in Berlusconi and talk about him in an Enlish forum? Are you italian? I am italian, and I don't care about him. If he will still have the chance to be Il presidente del Consiglio again, means that italians deserve him. Means that italians have such a bad memory, and they are cheaters and liers and mafiosi like him. Don't be worried about Italy. Stupidity and ignorance have to be punished.

No, but I have many friends, coworkers, and relatives who are.

And I can see it from my office window, as well as from home.

Tom

But he's just so darn entertaining for non-Italians (though terrible if you do live in Italy obviously).