Silvio Berlusconi has been the richest and most charismatic man in Italy for many years. But the origins of his fortune remain such a mystery that many accuse him of “going into politics so as to not go to jail”. And into politics he did go. Moreover, few were surprised when he became the most powerful and controversial Italian prime minister since Benito Mussolini.
(Arrivederci Silvio … until next time? The iPINIONS Journal, May 8, 2006)
I suspect even the prospect of having his political foes hound him into prison is preferable to having his erstwhile allies hound him out of office. Because only this explains why, after vowing only days ago that he will not go, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced yesterday that he will resign after all.
Indeed, as if to show that he was jumping instead of being shoved, he proffered that his resignation is conditioned on the Italian parliament passing a battery of austerity measures to stave off a debt crisis similar to the one that now has Greece in economic death throes. Unfortunately, the fact that the lower house had already voted on a budget designed to do just that rendered his proffer demonstrably specious.
All the same, nothing becomes Berlusconi’s 20-year reign over political life in Italy quite like his leaving it. Because its debt crisis is only compounding the latest and most embarrassing revelation in his tenure of scandal and corruption that has made Italy the laughing stock of the world.
Specifically, the ongoing judicial investigation into his “bunga, bunga” parties (featuring underage prostitutes, allegedly) makes the congressional investigation into Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky (complete with impeachment trial) seem like a puritanical witch hunt.
As my opening quote indicates, I have duly commented on many of Berlusconi’s shenanigans over the years. Therefore, I shall suffice now only to provide, on his behalf, this Nixonian epitaph on his scandal-plagued career:
You won’t have me to kick around anymore.
An epitaph made all the more analogous given reports that he was caught on camera compiling an enemies’ list just hours before announcing his intention to resign….
Arrivederci Silvio … for the last time.
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Arrivederci Silvio … until next time?
Berlusconi indicted…
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