Italian Home Secretary Roberto Maroni, Left; A Horndog, Center; Italian Minister of Federal Reforms Umberto Bossi At Right (Alessandro Di Meo / European Pressphoto)
And as the world holds its breath, waiting for the beginning of Armageddon in the Middle East or Ragnarok in the financial world through collapse of the Euro, the Paper Of Record © reported this morning that the Clown King of Bunga-Bunga Land views the economic crisis about to break upon Italy in, uh, "personal" terms:
After denying reports about his imminent resignation, Mr. Berlusconi said he would face a vote on a state financing bill on Tuesday that could potentially take down his government, and in coming days would call for a confidence vote on austerity measures meant to quell market concerns about Italy.
“I want to look at those who want to betray me in the face,” he said.
With high debts, vast underground economies, low birth rates and more pensioners than workers, there is no doubt that Greece and Italy need structural changes to survive. But with deeply entrenched political patronage societies, governments in both countries have been unwilling or unable to carry out such changes, which would require striking the heart of their own constituencies.
"With deeply entrenched political patronage societies"... leaders "unwilling or unable [to strike at] the heart of their... constituencies" -- Gosh, does this remind you of any other country we might know?
MEHR: NYT: "Cornered by the European debt crisis, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy offered a conditional resignation on Tuesday, agreeing to step down but only after Parliament passes an austerity package demanded by the European Union, a move that could bring the country closer to early elections."
No comments:
Post a Comment