Silvio Berlusconi
Bunga bunga and bling aside, Berlusconi’s legacy is a loss of faith in Italy’s political eliteJon Henley Europe correspondent
That is to assume that Italians had any before. And here the truth is that while Berlusconi was everything he’s accused of having been he was a step up from his predecessors. Seriously – Craxi, Andreotti?
From Wikipedia: Since the end of World War II in 1945, Italy has had 69 governments, at an average of one every 1.11 years.
That doesn’t suggest faith in the political process.
From what I remember about Berlusconi, he didn’t seem too bad. Of course what comes to mind is the bunga bunga. But that’s no doubt why they didn’t like him.
Actually the present one seems to be at least trying as well. I seem to remember some fuss about illegal immigrants drowning off southern Italy.
Just been chatting with my Italian colleague. We agreed that Berlusconi, more than anyone, truly united the country.
In terms of media coverage and elite opinion, Berlusconi had the role of John the Baptist to Trump’s Christ. We’ll not have any more of that sort of thing, thank you very much.
Better a bunga-bungarer than a Mafiosi murderer.
60 Governments since 1945 – average life expectancy of 13 months for an Italian Govt.
Berlusconi’s political career was a result of a loss of faith in Italy’s political elite. Forza Italia was basically “Make Italy Great Again”.
Which, now I come to think of it, might go some way to explaining the swamp’s reaction to Trump: they thought he was Berlusconi and they could nail him on the same kind of sleaze.
Interesting article in unherd https://unherd.com/2023/06/the-left-was-blinded-by-berlusconi/?tl_inbound=1&tl_groups%5B0%5D=18743&tl_period_type=3&mc_cid=6130f47044&mc_eid=1658df3790
Classic case of be careful what you wish for
Italy has, famously, rarely been able to keep a government in office for a whole year.
They do not have the French assumption that the ‘elite’ should run their society.
Sounds like they actually believe in democracy, Agammamon.