Saturday, February 25, 2012. It could be the date when the former premier will be sentenced. At least that's Silvio Berlusconi's opinion.
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| Running out of options |
“They are going to sentence me”, declared today Silvio Berlusconi to the Berlusconi-owned newspaper Il Giornale, “it's crazy, this country is in the judges' hands”.
The complaint is coming just a couple of days after an appeals court dismissed Silvio Berlusconi's claims of judicial bias, and cleared the way to proceed with a graft trial - the so-called Mills Trial - started back in 2006 (but related to events happened in the 90s). And after Mr Berlusconi managed to meet Mario Monti, the current Italian PM, trying to get some kind of support, any kind of support.
Thursday, January 26, 2012. Umberto Bossi accuses his ally Silvio Berlusconi of acting like a wimp and being afraid to send home Italian prime minister Mario Monti. And threatens to send home the President of Lombardy instead.“Silvio is just afraid“ to send home Monti, “he's a wimp”. This is Umberto Bossi's position regarding Berlusconi unwillingness to send Monti home.
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| Are those real punches? |
“Monti must go” is Bossi's slogan, otherwise Formigoni will go. Formigoni is the President of Lombardy region, Bossi is hinting that his party – the Northern League – could withdraw the support for the coalition.
Actually Mario Monti is shored up in the polls, even though the reforms brought by his technocratic government are tough and painful.
Bossi manoeuvre might be just a way to show his delusional fans (recently he's been booed on a Northern League's meeting) that he is alive and kicking, whilst many thinks former Ministry of Interior should oust him and get the lead of the quite-not-so angry crowds.
Saturday, November 8, 2011. Many people are waiting for Silvio Berlusconi's resignation, in the streets, on the Internet, whilst still fearing a last minute trick from the Cavaliere.
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| Berlusconi's farewell |
Silvio Berlusconi's end has been anticipated since, at least, the 14th of December 2010. Many were convinced that on that day the Italian prime minister would lose the majority in the Parliament, after Gianfranco Fini's Future and Freedom split, and bring to an end his government.
But the Cavaliere's end did not come. He managed to find unexpected allies, and his government carried on, even though it was barely able to pass the deep reforms Italy needed – and needs – in order to get rid of his enormous debt of almost €1.9trn and start to grow again, after a decade of stagnation.
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| Scilipoti's protest |
The game lasted almost 12 months, but now seems to be definitely over, as last Tuesday some “traitors” (as the Italian Silvio called them) left the sinking boat, paving the way for the “coup d'etat” (as Scilipoti, Berlusconi's ally, put it) of Gianfranco Fini, supported by the banks lobby.
Today the Italian Parliament has approved the financial stability law, and Silvio Berlusconi – a few days ago – stated that will be the final act of the current government, and he will resign.
So today it could be – and should be – the day, as the Italian population is preparing to celebrate. On Twitter and Facebook the tension increases.
Will he go for good, this time?
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