Confessions of a Misguided Trio

Italy Votes.... Intimidation Alleged

Italy went to the polls this weekend, over 2 days the citizens of Italy were asked to elect 945 members to parliament.

The International Herald Tribune reports that Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi did an extraordinary political performance over the last few days, with the PM speaking of communists boiling babies in China; [saying] Italy needed United Nations election observers to prevent fraud; [and calling] anyone who voted for Prodi (Berlusconi's main rival) or his allies a vulgar name that newscasters stuttered over.'

When it came to Berlusconi's time to vote he turned up to the polling booth with his much beloved 95 year old mother. As she entered the polling area Berlusconi was heard to "instruct her" to 'mark a cross on the symbol of Forza Italia'.

Not surprisingly an opposition election observer informed him that his statement had violated a ban on public campaigning.

Needless to say, the predictions are that Berlusconi will loose the election to Prodi, who believes Italy needs to reconnect with Europe instead of continuing with Berlusconi's close friendship with Washington.

Then again, political predictions over the last year or so haven't exactly been reliable...

It appears as though the people voting for Prodi are doing so because they have developed a great dislike with Berlusconi, the man who just recently infamously declared himself the Jesus of European politics.

Results are expected Monday evening... Prodi has said that he will withdraw Italian troops from Iraq, which could make for interesting times ahead if he wins.

posted by Mark @ 10:43 PM