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| Europe |
| Silvio Berlusconi resigns as PM |
| 2011-11-12 |
| Silvio Berlusconi has resigned as prime minister of Italy, after dominating the country's politics for 17 years. President Giorgio Napolitano accepted his offer and is likely to appoint technocrat Mario Monti his successor. Mr Berlusconi lost his majority amid an acute debt crisis that threatens the eurozone. He promised to go once MPs had approved new austerity measures. Crowds celebrated outside the presidential palace, shouting "buffoon" as he entered. The BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says Mr Berlusconi's last journey as prime minister was an undignified one. Police struggled to control a large, hostile crowd which booed and jeered as his convoy swept by, and after his resignation he left by a side exit to avoid the protesters. He said he felt "embittered" after hearing the insults. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #5 ...I believe the phrase for transitional government in Rome begins with "et tu..." |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2011-11-12 21:30 |
| #4 there's no Italian phrase for "orderly succession" |
| Posted by: Frank G 2011-11-12 18:56 |
| #3 Berlusconi was the best thing to happen to Italy since Giuseppe Mazzini. Managing to get dominance in a political system full of schism and infighting, and keeping it for 17 years, is about miraculous. His biggest mistake was in not preparing his party and Italy for an orderly succession after he was gone. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2011-11-12 18:48 |
| #2 Don't worry, he still controls the media. |
| Posted by: gromky 2011-11-12 17:58 |
| #1 no more Bunga Bunga? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2011-11-12 17:37 |