News Analysis: Berlusconi’s Ejection From Senate May Pose Certain Impact on Italian Politics - Xinhua
On the eve of the vote for Silvio Berlusconi’s expulsion from Parliament, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, Italian media and analysts wonder to what extend the three-time prime minister and his loyalists of Forza Italia (FI) party would go to survive politically and how their move could affect the country.
“Which way would Forza Italia go now, after tying its fate completely to the political destiny of its leader?” analyst Pierluigi Battista wrote on Corriere della Sera newspaper.
“They pulled out of the government and said they will withdraw their support from every debate on reforms… But then, only a scorched-earth strategy will remain,” Battista added.
On Tuesday, Berlusconi moved his revived center-right Forza Italia party from the coalition government to opposition and sided against the 2014 budget law, which passed anyway in Senate with a confidence vote.
The switch was explained as result of a different political view on the budget, and FI Senator Paolo Romani said in press conference that “the budget law was an unacceptable compromise.”
Many observers, however, considered it rather as an extreme attempt for Berlusconi to fight in what it might be his most important personal battle.
“Berlusconi and his party seem to be taking an ‘anti-system’ position,” Battista explained. “But this means cancelling every chance of dialogue or moderate attitude. Their political responsibility has disappeared… And to hell with the country,”the analyst said.