Berlusconi resigns amid jeering, celebrations

[Jazzgirl]

Source: Reuters

Nov 12 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi formally resigned on Saturday, ending one of the most scandal-plagued eras in recent Italian history amid the jeers of hundreds of protestors gathered in central Rome to celebrate his departure.

President Giorgio Napolitano accepted Berlusconi's resignation after a meeting in the presidential palace, his office said.

Berlusconi, who failed to secure a majority in a crucial vote on Tuesday, handed in his resignation after parliament passed a package of measures demanded by European partners to restore market confidence in Italy's strained public finances.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/12/italy-resignation-idUSR1E7MC00320111112

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More at the link.

[Tx4obama]

1. Grazie Dio !!! Ciao ciao Silvio :) n/t

[MADem]

5. Giusto!

Farewell to the hairplugged pervert!

[Golden Raisin]

15. Finalmente! Basta!

Addio a bunga-bunga.

[SoCalMusicLover]

2. Get Out While The Gettin's Good

Exit Stage Left before TSHTF. He's finished looting and destroying the country's economy, and perhaps the entire Euro, so why not just retire and be able to hit on young women 24/7.

[snagglepuss]

3. A long time coming. As I mentioned in another thread, I would soooo love

to find out how his ardent fanbase now feel about him now that the economy is utterly wrecked.

BTW that is one damn smart looking cat, he sure doesn't look that he would ever have been taken in by Mr Bunga Bunga.

[Jazzgirl]

6. LOL, she is the smartest cat I've ever had.

She was a rescue kitty about 2 years ago at the age of 2. She had huge bald spots on each side and her stomach had no hair because she was literally eating it out! It has all grown back and she is quite happy. She runs the house! :-)

[Ian David]

4. He's resigning to spend more time having bunga bunga with his family. n/t

[Fuddnik]

7. Joe Paterno named new Prime Minister!

:spank: :wow: :spank:

[Po_d Mainiac]

20. Naw, he's always got his eyes out for tight ends. n/t

[JackRiddler]

8. A regime change by the banksters to impose austerity is not how I imagined the happy day.

[Jazzgirl]

9. Me either JackRiddler.

I knew when I read the replacement had worked for a big European bank that they were in trouble. Italy is going to get flushed down the tubes like they're doing everywhere else.

[Mojorabbit]

11. I know, Right.

Might as well celebrate tonight because tomorrow they will see the beginning of austerity and it won't be pretty.

[suffragette]

22. Same here

Happy he's gone, but the blame the financial dilemma on the people rather than the financiers and the concurrent grab the pensions and retirement memes are being loudly trumpeted.

Example here, pushing deregulation of some industries and raising retirement age:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/berlusconi-poised-to-step-down/2011/11/12/gIQAMJuZFN_story_1.html

The budget bill that passed Saturday represents initial steps toward addressing Italy’s bloated state and lack of competitiveness. It would, for instance, raise the general retirement age from 65 to 67 by 2026, deregulate professions including architecture and engineering and offer tax breaks to companies that hire young apprentice workers.

But Emma Marcegaglia, head of the powerful industrial group Confindustria, called the just-approved package “not significant” compared with the larger reforms that Italy is under pressure to produce in relatively short order. For instance, although the bill passed this weekend raises the retirement age, it does not tackle the larger problem that Italian workers are allowed to retire after 40 years of service, meaning that some can start collecting pensions as early as their 50s. It also fails to address labor laws that make it tough for large companies to fire workers.


Hmm, so someone who has paid into a pension for 40 years can retire in their "50's." Sounds like that someone would have started their full-time work in their late teens and done it steadily for 40 years. So now being that reliable worker for all these years still isn't enough and they want more.


edit for typo

[DCBob]

10. Another corrupt leader bites the dust.

but it remains to be seen how this plays out. Silvio was just one part of the problem.

[lunatica]

12. Meanwhile the Italian people get to pay the price

[dipsydoodle]

13. Only in part at present

Thats the vat increase. Pension reforms affect the future and the selloff of state owned assets over time - not overnight.

Italy is far far richer than Greece and all they need to quickly is get the interest on their bonds down as thats otherwise wasted money.

[DCBob]

14. and yet they are celebrating in streets....not rioting as many here predicted..

REPORTING FROM ROME — Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, blamed by many for leading his country to the brink of financial ruin, resigned Saturday night as throngs of people gathered throughout the city, bursting into chants and brimming with both hopes and trepidation that a new political and economic era would soon begin for the country.

"It's a historic day," said Bruno Grassi, 21, an engineering student who gathered with others outside Berlusconi’s private home, Palazzo Grazioli, in central Rome.

A larger crowd formed on the square of the Quirinal, the residence of Italy’s president, where the mood was festive. At 9 p.m., as Berlusconi’s car pulled into the Quirinal, where he was to formally tender his resignation to the president, shouts erupted from the crowd: "Resign, resign! Fool, fool!"

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2011/11/italy-silvio-berlusconi-resigns.html

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Looks like the Italians may be ready to clean up their act. But that wont be an easy task for sure.

[tcaudilllg]

16. Why not?

[DCBob]

17. The austerity plan has been passed into law..

I thought that was supposed to trigger riots... according to many on this board.

[unkachuck]

18. the global banksters....

....finally managed to slip their ransom note under the peoples' door by having their Italian governing stooge resign after dumping a boat-load of austerity shit onto the Italian people....

....does this means crooked markets are more powerful than sovereign nations, democracies or the will of the people?....doesn't this render democracies and democratic institutions meaningless?

[Little Tich]

19. I can't believe he's gone. It's time to shudder and take a shower.

A disgraceful era of political incompetence is finally over. Now, Italy has to act responsibly and take one for Europe. I'm sure it's going to hurt, but please do it anyway.

[No Elephants]

21. Come se dice, en Italiano, "It's about damned time?"