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[Felius]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15708729

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Italy crisis: Silvio Berlusconi resigns as PM

Silvio Berlusconi has resigned as prime minister of Italy, after dominating the country's politics for 17 years.

President Giorgio Napolitano accepted his offer and is likely to appoint technocrat Mario Monti his successor.

Mr Berlusconi lost his majority amid an acute debt crisis that threatens the eurozone. He promised to go once MPs had approved new austerity measures.

Crowds celebrated outside the presidential palace, shouting "buffoon" as he entered.

The BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says Mr Berlusconi's last journey as prime minister was an undignified one.

[RedKing]

Good riddance. Although I think it's been clear for a few days now that his exit was impending.

Any dibs on how long before prosecutors indict him, now that he loses judicial immunity?

[Virex]

He never had judicial immunity, he got by with friends and amendments to annoying laws.

[PsyberianHusky]

How does a Italian parliament work?
If someone steps down they can put in someone else from the party as PM on the spot?

[Aqizzar]

How does a Italian parliament work?
If someone steps down they can put in someone else from the party as PM on the spot?

They bunga bunga for it, survivor gets to lead the government.  That's how Berlusconi stayed in power so long.

[Vattic]

An Italian colleague of mine will be more than pleased to hear this. He left his country in part because of Berlusconi's policies. Saying that some of the reforms are similar but worse than the things Berlusconi did.

They bunga bunga for it, survivor gets to lead the government.  That's how Berlusconi stayed in power so long.

Much like the UK by the sounds of it. I was surprised at how many people didn't realise you don't elect the PM but the party back when everyone was after Gordon Brown.

[Virex]

That's probably the result of having a 2-party system though, as the vote breakdown among parties becomes more evident in countries with more parties (such as those on mainland Europe)

[Leafsnail]

Interesting you should say that considering a third party is currently in government here...

[Virex]

The UK has been a two-party state for so long you explicitly had to mention the existence of a third party

[mainiac]

The Liberal-Democrats are in power in the UK?  Well what has that power sharing gotten them?  A referendum that failed (thanks to the conservatives).  What else?

[Leafsnail]

The UK has been a two-party state for so long you explicitly had to mention the existence of a third party

I, uh... what?

The Liberal-Democrats are in power in the UK?  Well what has that power sharing gotten them?  A referendum that failed (thanks to the conservatives).  What else?

Mostly it's just blunting whatever the Conservatives wanted (on most issues) - the nature of a junior partner in a coalition is generally gonna be blocking some things rather than proposing a lot of their own stuff.  Although there is the gay marriage stuff going through.

[Virex]

The UK has been a two-party state for so long you explicitly had to mention the existence of a third party

I, uh... what?

Excuse me if I'm wrong, but hasn't the UK been a two-party state for very long? The way people think doesn't change overnight you know.

[Tapeworm]

Huh, Berlusconi actually left. I wasn't sure if he'd actually go through with it.

@Leafsnail: How did they get that one past the Conservatives? I don't recall them being very liberal on that issue.

[Leafsnail]

Well... no, not really.  Jokes aside, the Liberal Democrats have had a non-negligable degree of representation/ share of the vote for a good while, and are now in government.  There are also a total of 10 parties represented in the Commons (...well, 9 if you don't count the party that abstains from every vote).

...Anyway, back to Berlusconi.  Somehow I feel I will miss the endless stream of hilarious news from him.

Fakeedit:

@Leafsnail: How did they get that one past the Conservatives? I don't recall them being very liberal on that issue.

Mostly it'll help boost David Cameron's claim that he's changed his mind on gay rights (since he voted against getting rid of Section 28 in 2000). I'm not sure whether he's genuinely had a change of heart or if it's part of a ploy to make the Conservatives more electable next time, but either way backing gay marriage seems like a good move for him.

[scriver]

...Anyway, back to Berlusconi.  Somehow I feel I will miss the endless stream of hilarious news from him.

Indeed this. Today I mourn, for a great source of lulz has left us. I guess the Italians are happy the world will stop laughing at/feeling embarrassed for their leaders and can finally start rebuilding their reputation again.

Mostly though, I'm happy he's finally going away too. Well, kind of going. He's too big a player to just disappear unless he wants to. He still has his media empire, for one. Some guy were theorising he might try for the presidency instead. In time, at least. Or maybe he'll just try to pull strings from behind the scenes