Prodi just won the Italian elections. Italy has an obvious economic problem. Can he do any better than Berlusconi? My vote is no. What are your opinions?

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"There is nothing wrong with America that can't be cured by what's right with America" William Jefferson Clinton

No.

IMO his government will collapse rather soonish and Italy will spiral into the one government after another after another like it had been doing ever since Mussolinni left office and before Berlusconi manged to be the first PM to keep power a full term since Benito.

I say no. Berlusconi has failed to admit defeat yet and is making Prodi's job limited. It takes reform to turn around any suffering economy and he just won't be able to do it. In today's world, reform mostly ends in failure or anger. Prodi is IMO a better man for the job. Berlusconi was overly corrupt and he simply had too much business power to appear concerned with each and every citizen. However, if you remember Prodi had his chance before and it seems like he'll be dependen ton th eother factions of the left. Thus, reform is not going to be possible because he's simply a puppet going in the direction of which evr way they turn him. Another negative is Prodi looks less friendly towards American efforts. Needless to say, troop pullout would've happened under Berlusconi but this is going to hurt our relationship.

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"There is nothing wrong with America that can't be cured by what's right with America" William Jefferson Clinton

isn't Italy one of your 'major' powers?

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the memories of a man in his old age
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roger waters

Well, we will see if Prodi is able to bring decency to Italian politics.. Anyway, it was time for Berlusconi to go.. He was a worst kind of political leader imaginable.. He was corrupted up to his teeths and rather openly..

For a right-wing candidate, he managed to lose the support of the industry and many religious groups, which is something I would call achievement..

One of things he did, was to break the legistlation regulating accounting & other business activity.. And he did this solely to avoid prison sentences, since he had *kinda* broken the named laws.. Like you might imagine, the investors and business were not happy about this.. He effectively opened door for corruption and watered down the legistalations protecting the integrity of business and the interests of the investors..

I also remember that he managed to sabotage the tax collection somehow.. It might also be a consequence of Berlusconi trying to avoid prison - this time for tax evasion..

Also the fact that he changed the election law hoping it to guarantee him a victory was kind of creepy.. At least the rest of Europe won't be missing that man..

- BtD

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Italy is a major power Sputterman..

What does that have to do with anything?

do you get that Italy is a major power? Compared to Latvia or Macedonia maybe.

It has to do with the fact you were basically saying that Italy forms a new government yearly. Major power or not, expect it to pull out of the coalition, it's contribution meaningless anyway.

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the memories of a man in his old age
are the deeds of a man in his prime

roger waters

Governments changing has nothing to do with a nations status in the world. Italy has been a major power since roughly 1905. Hi.



Even under Prodi's likely short lived government Italy will not run home in a half assed manner like your heroes in Spain. They will withdraw with the knowledge that they are being replaced by Iraqi forces...and they won't leave the coalition. But you and others willl portray it that way...iow you'll lie.
Their contribution has been large ...why don't you stop lying to yourself and others?