BERLUSCONI IS BACK

by RAY FLEMING
THOSE who appreciate unpredictable policies and appalling gaffes by prime ministers will welcome the return of Silvio Berlusconi following Italy's general election last weekend. In his first address to the nation he said, “I am preparing a government ready to last five years” - a bold claim in a country which, on average over the past half century has had a new administration almost once a year. However, it should be kept in mind that after his election in 2001 Mr Berlusconi did indeed serve for a full five-year time even though he was obliged to resign briefly during that period when local election results went against him. This latest election has given Berlusconi's “The People of Freedom” party a rare workable overall majority in both parliamentary chambers. Nonetheless, he will still be dependent on the support of his coalition partners, among them the Northern League which has doubled its representation to more than forty seats in the parliament and in doing so has become Mr Berlusconi's most important ally. The League is made up of regional parties in Lombardy and Veneto that think the North earns the money the south spends; it regards Rome as “the big thief” and want a federal structure for Italy. in 1994 Mr Berlusconi's coalition government lasted only eight months after he fell out with the Northern League. During the election campaign the leader of the Northern League said that the Italian Navy should fire live rounds as boats bringing illegal immigrants to Italy's shores.