Italian Election Coverage

Silvio Berlusconi, the moderate to conservative Italian Prime Minister, is currently on a reelection campaign. He has been a strong supporter of the war on terrorism (how can Italians forget the Red Bridage?) so this election is big for American interests. I believe Berlusconi will win but he appears a bit overconfident. After a debate, a reporter asked Berlusconi how the vote would go. He replied that the Left can't win and I respect the Italian electorate too much to think "che ci siano cosi tanti coglioni" -- that they would have the balls -- to vote against their own interests.

Basically the entire country has reached a crisis point. First, the demographic problem has reached a critical situation. Italy has one of the lowest birth rates in Europe and the continuous influx of criminal and terrorist immigrants have frightened even the far left. Second, the generous pension system (that has been a God-given right for generations of Italians) is bloated and can no longer be adequately sustained. Third, Italy has had an overly protectionist economy (especially for its workers and failing companies) that has restrained Italy from achieving its economic potential. Hostility toward foreign investment (i.e. foreign company buy-outs of traditional Italian companies) is common and privatization (which Berlusconi has pressed for) sets off protests and polemic debate. Lastly, Italy’s chaotic legal system is in need of radical reform (the average duration of a civil suit in Italy is between 10-30 years). Navigating through the morass of legal bureaucracy is perilous, time-consuming, and madding at times.

Having said all that, Berlusconi and his coalition have shown more promise than those in the past by attempting pension reform, such as extending the retirement age, and inviting more outside investment into Italy without fear that they are somehow losing their Italian character, among other reforms. In my opinion, a win for Romano Prodi’s coalition would be a return to the same old socialist polices.