'Should Berlusconi Not Deliver, the Euro Could Fall'

[marmar]

from Der Spiegel:



French and German demands for austerity in Italy have put Prime Minister Berlusconi in a tight spot. Italian newspapers are reporting that he may call new elections as a result. German commentators agree that it is time for Berlusconi to go, but that Merkel and Sarkozy were wrong to chide him.

Silvio Berlusconi's government is in trouble. Not only has the Italian prime minister apparently lost the respect of his counterparts in Germany and France, but his coalition is facing fracture over possible austerity measures and social system reform.

Indeed, after coalition partner Umberto Bossi of the Northern League ruled out a proposed increase to the retirement age from 65 to 67, Italian dailies reported on Wednesday that Berlusconi may be planning to resign at the end of the year. Both La Repubblica and La Stampa write that Berlusconi and Bossi reached a secret agreement which foresees new elections to be held next March rather than in spring of 2013 as originally planned.

"Spare me a disgrace in Brussels and I promise you that we will hold elections in March," Berlusconi told Bossi according to the article in La Reppublica. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,794121,00.html

[WinkyDink]

1. No more bunga bunga for you!

[Javaman]

2. My GF and I are going to Italy in March...

I wonder what the future holds for us.