Berlusconi Quits

[colcol]

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has fallen on his sword following the debt crisis enclosing on Italy, there was the personal issues such as being unfaithfull to his wife, the corruption, backdoor deals, enormous separation of power issues, the ex blue movie star candidate, 'bunga-bunga' partys, underage girl freinds, prostitutes, the rug he wore on his head he purchased from Tony Mockbell, these things are all fine by me, but his biggest crime was his car with driver was a Black Audi, shame on you!, his replacement is an Economist who has a reputation for sorting out economic matters, just what Italy needs at the moment, his name is Mario, but he has been dubbed by the press "Super Mario', but the best thing about him is his car with driver, if my eyesight serves me correctly, and i have never seen one in Australia, but i got a quick glance of the badge, it was a Lancia, with such good taste in cars i wish 'Super Mario' all the best, Colin.

[Paul Gulliver]

Beautifully put Colin. I watched him arrive in the Audi and thought exactly the same thing, just couldn't work out what car Mario Monte was in.

I read this today which probably sums Silvio up:

Berlusconi's appeal rested fundamentally on an idea, that all Italians could help themselves to a good life just like he did, somewhat irrespectively of any rules, in the name of an ill-conceived idea of "freedom". He normalised this under his mantra that if people were happy (even at the cost of believing in lies or fabricated news) then money would go around and everything would be rosy. Only two months ago he was denying the severity of the debt crisis!!

A bit more on Italy

There are areas of excellence in Italy, and indeed it is the 8th largest economy in the world, so the statement that there is no interest in innovation is a bit rich. Yes, failures to simplify the bureucratic, fiscal and political processes in the last 20 years have led to major inefficiencies which should now be rectified. Also, overly generous vote-buying government subsidies put major holes in the budget in the 1980s-1990s. These are chiefly administrative problems, however. 40% of Italy's economy is unknown to the Government, which means that serious crime-fighting and tax compliance programs could get the country out of trouble. This hidden potential is one of the reasons why the country has not required a bailout despite the spread reaching high levels and the books looking so scary.

Sorry if i haven't checked the forum rules on political comment

[1750GTV]

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has fallen on his sword

That was part of the problem - he fell on his sword a bit too often ...

Chris

[kartone]

I have lived and worked in Italy's north and was a member of the industry association Confindustria:
1. the government has borrowed on behalf of voters for decades to gain their support;
2. the government has wasted the borrowed money for decades (read corruption, ill fated projects (Alfasud), etc.);
3. a result of point 1 and 2 is that over decades voters have become accustomed to a lifestyle beyond their means;
4. efficiency & productivity is well below other industrialized countries.
It will take a huge cultural change to eventually bring Italy back from the brink, meantime no matter who the captain is the Titanic is sailing towards an iceberg; France is next.
Eventually we will have a two speed Europe. 

[pancho]

From what the media reports he had a definite penchant for fast women - go to google and type in 'Berlusconi women' and click images - see the results.
or here as well - http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/gallery/gallery-e6frewxi-1225992977824?page=1

- in contrast I'm not sure what state of mind Arnie the governator was in.

http://images.sodahead.com/polls/001832823/177606075_99657_mildred_baena_xlarge.jpeg

[1750GTV]

- in contrast I'm not sure what state of mind Arnie the governator was in.

http://images.sodahead.com/polls/001832823/177606075_99657_mildred_baena_xlarge.jpeg

Maybe it was a dark alley, rather than a state of mind, that he was in .......

Italy has had more than 60 parliaments since the declaration of the Republic in 1946, largely attributed to the disparity in political opinion between the north and the south - though there are many other factors. Such political instability would bring a lesser nation to its knees.

As to the economy, 40% is black and untaxed. Ironically, that is probably the component that is keeping the nation afloat.

If the EU breaks up, Germany & France will enter a recession from which they should recover but Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal will have to devalue their currencies to become competitive and as a result, they may become the permanent European 'second speed' to which kartone correctly alludes.

Is Australia safe? Depends on how much toxic debt China has purchased from Europe.

My 2c, or 2 drachma/lire/peseta/escuda etc,
Chris

[colcol]

Italy owes over 2 trillion dollars, 'Super Mario' Monti has his work cutout, maybe Berlusconi was softening  up Italy by having a Audi in case Fiat sells Alfa Romeo to Volkswagon, but the Audi was styled by Italian Walter De Silva who was Alfa Romeo's head of Central Style between 1988-2000, his best work was the 156[!], an unbiased Colin.

[Paul Gulliver]

Tragic Misunderstanding

[kartone]

she would have looked better in red

[f1worldchamp]

Tragic Misunderstanding

That's gold!

[colcol]

I heard on the radio the other day that an Economist desribed Southern Italy as having an economy that is like Greece's, and that the North is a little better, sounds like Italy has a 2 speed economy, long as they keep pumping out those good cars out of Pomigliano, [until Volkswagon buys them], Colin.