The scene is now set for the fall of Silvio Berlusconi

[Judi Lynn]

Source: The Independent

The scene is now set for the fall of Silvio Berlusconi
Italy's scandal-ridden Prime Minister in last-ditch effort to avoid defeat in next week's debate
By John Phillips in Rome
Sunday, 5 December 2010

Silvio Berlusconi tomorrow begins his last week in office as Italy's Prime Minister before a crucial parliamentary confidence vote sounds the death knell for a government rocked by cocaine-fuelled sex scandals and WikiLeaks claims of corruption.

"In a few days parliament will bear witness to what everyone knows, that the government is no more, or is not able to govern," said Gianfranco Fini, the "post-Fascist" parliamentary speaker who precipitated Italy's political crisis by withdrawing support from 74-year-old Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom alliance, and taking four ministers out of the government. On Friday, 85 MPs from Mr Fini's breakaway Futurist Party and other centre-right groupings signed a new no-confidence motion, reinforcing an earlier one tabled by the former communist Democratic Party, which, together with the anti-corruption Italy Values party, commands a further 230 votes.

In all, 317 MPs have indicated that they will vote against the media mogul in the 14 December confidence motion in the Chamber of Deputies. This means that Mr Berlusconi would be able to muster only 310 "no" votes, forcing him to hand in his resignation to the Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano.

Mr Berlusconi has poured scorn on claims that he will lose the vote, calling it a bufala (buffalo), Italian slang for a bluff. Il Messaggero newspaper quoted Mr Berlusconi as telling his inner circle: "I will not be grabbed by the cazzo with this bullshit." But Mr Fini's Futurist whip, Italo Bocchino, hit back: "It is evident that there are 317 votes to end this government experience. It is not a bufala."



Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/the-scene-is-now-set-for-the-fall-of-silvio-berlusconi-2151583.html

[DeSwiss]

1. In the end.....

...if he goes, it'll most likely be because of the "other garbage" that's his undoing.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-02/naples-garbage-mess-gets-berlusconi-s-attention-as-his-government-teeters.html">

:applause: - K&R

[47of74]

2. I would not want to grab his cazzo

[Sapphireprick]

3. One less right-winger at the helm

Good.

[pansypoo53219]

4. my italian e-pal will be pleased.

nt

[47of74]

5. So will my Italian friends

They don't much like Silvio.