the choice in italy wont shape europe. They are the poorest nation in western europe. 60% of italians have no faith in central government.
Truth: italy is corrupt. The mafia still excert exceptional control over the nation. Berlusconi survived a vote of no confidence when 2 oposition members switched to his side. If that dosent scream bribery, what does. That man is thicker than george bush, more corrupt than romni. And if his party wins, he will return. He is bad news.

No one in europe follows italy. There government is more in line with the balkans than west europe.

Bersani is the only viable choice because he is the only one who can beat Berlusconi, possibly the most corrupt leader of the 21st century, at this point.

Why is this corrupt mafia state even allowed to be a part of the european union is beyond me. As longs as Berlusconi is not allowed back in power, I dont care much. Next to him almost everyone looks good.

If he does come back and he asks the union to bail the country out of all the economical damage he has caused, he can go and ask for the money from his mob buddies. They have more money than the european tax payers who already have to bail out Greece and Spain. #pthui#

Brigand :
Maybe because italy has important industrys?
And italy is trying to break the mob. Its not easy to remove an established force though.
And berlusconi is too stupid to be in league with the mob

thenumberone :

What industries? They produce nothing there that wont break apart in a year tops. Some decent food maybe but thats´it.

And they will never break up the mob. Besides which one are they trying to break? There are at least four huge mob groups there. Taking down one clan of one group only creates a power vacuum for the next clan to come right in.

And Berlusconi actually was alleged to have ties with the mob and if he had not, at least his party has more or less. But he made laws that made impossible for the courts to persecute him. He made very sure that he can do whatever he wants and to remain above the law. The fact he went to court for buying sex from a minor was only because they could not charge him for the actual crimes he did because the laws he put up protected him from that.

And ofcource he is going to get away from that also. Compared to this guy Al Capone was nothing.

Brigand :
Agriculture, wine, automobiles, appliances, fashion and tourism.
Plus they have plenty of reserves. Its highly unlikely they will need a bailout.
If they do the eu will impose terms too, meaning their economy will be semi-steered by countrys like france and germany.
They have arrested several high profile individuals recently, they even brought in a law allowing any buisiness owned by the mob to be seized, even if its a legal buisiness.

Hes still in court over these charges. Certainly their is corruption in italy but they arent beyond recovery.
On top of that, our (uk) politicians get away with blatent theft all the time.

thenumberone :

Its not really about how much money those industries make. Those companies are not the ones who need the bail out but the goverment who does not get enough taxes to pay for its expenses. Or the damn banks who play on imaginary money that is not there. There was already some news not so long ago that Italy is almost going down the same path as the Greece and Spain already have. And then its up for the goverments of yours and mine to pay for the shenanigans.

And if the whole country is basically running on grey markets already, I just think its unfair for the rest of us in the union. And Berlusconi, he is always on trial for something or another. If they just would lock him up for a little awhile it would do him some good maybe.

Brigand :
yes but italy has more financial options available. As things stand, its more likely spain will drop the ball.
Berlusconi is crazy, there is no cure for him.

thenumberone :

You are right I think. Nuff said.