NationStates Jolt Archive

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article2293477.ece

The Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, submitted his resignation to President Giorgio Napolitano last night after losing a crucial vote on foreign affairs in the upper house, the Senate, where it has had at best a wafer-thin majority.

The resignation does not necessarily mean immediate new elections: over the next few days Mr Napolitano will hold talks with the other top office holders of state to decide what to do next. The constitution obliges the President to explore all other alternatives before calling a fresh general election. One possibility is a temporary "technical government", dedicated to implementing reforms over which there is a broad consensus. Alternatively, Mr Prodi may try to poach support from Christian Democrats who have parted company with Silvio Berlusconi.


Is anyone really that surprised ?

Its a real achievement for an Itallian government to last a year and this one with so many factions wasn't likely to. This could signal a change in electoral precedure but I doubt it, any ideas whos next? Whoever it is probably still be better than Berlusconi

They should just make the pope ruler over Italy. That'd be much easier to deal with.
:rolleyes:

Quitter...

No offense, but Italy has that syndrome of rapidly falling governments. If I can remember it right, in the early 1990's, Italy was in that peculiar situation in that it had no government for four months. I am rather inclined to think that Italy is a prime example of how not to have and run a parliamentary system. [Don't get me wrong, I'm an Italophile.]

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article2293477.ece



Is anyone really that surprised ?

Its a real achievement for an Itallian government to last a year and this one with so many factions wasn't likely to. This could signal a change in electoral precedure but I doubt it, any ideas whos next? Whoever it is probably still be better than Berlusconi

he loses one vote and he resigns, if he had repeatedly lost votes I can understand. Just losing one is not worth resiging over, especially if results in turmoil and no governance of your country. The news reported that the president may have to resort to apointing technocrats if the politicins can't form some kind of coalition.

Well it was over a fairly crucial foreign policy decision, but still. He was too quick to resign. I'm just imagining Berlusconi looking very smug right now... But this is a side effect of the new PR system they used at the last election. It can lead to very unstable governments.

Well it was over a fairly crucial foreign policy decision, but still. He was too quick to resign. I'm just imagine Berlusconi looking very smug right now... But this is a side effect of the new PR system they used at the last election. It can lead to very unstable governments.

Indeed. Proportional Representation gives greater representation and legitimacy to a parliament, and proposes more varied legislation but leads to very slim majorities and more often than not is a hung parliament.

The British First-Past-The-Post system always gives one party a majority, which leads to more stable government. However, it is largely an elected dictatorship, where the elected party is technically a minority and opposition parties have little power, and have to rely on majority party members rebelling in order to put down government legislation.

Indeed. Proportional Representation gives greater representation and legitimacy to a parliament, and proposes more varied legislation but leads to very slim majorities and more often than not is a hung parliament.

The British First-Past-The-Post system always gives one party a majority, which leads to more stable government. However, it is largely an elected dictatorship, where the elected party is technically a minority and opposition parties have little power, and have to rely on majority party members rebelling in order to put down government legislation.
That's not true of every PR system though. STV produces generally proportional representation, but makes it more difficult fringe parties to get elected without significant local support.

It's all about balance between the two. You know, making them :fluffle: .