Mr. Berlusconi survived the vote again. Once again he defied his critics and won the confidence vote although they say he is deeply involved in scandal and corruption allegations, to remain in office. But this narrowly won confidence vote saved his government from collapse and bought unrest on to the streets of Rome.
The Italian Prime Minister’s scandals with his business dealings and his numerous alleged relationships with women, was a strong case for the opposition, but they failed to unseat Mr. Berlusconi by missing out on three votes. We might be able to learn in the near future why this big U-turn saved the government and if the votes were bought by Mr.Berlusconi.
Rome magistrates have now begun an investigation. But for now all the World can witness that the majority of the MPs –only extra three votes- in the Parliament are supporting him as the Prime Minister. But he doesn’t have his country peoples support as they have started to take their own action into their hands.
Today police fired tear gas on protesters as they set fire to cars and threw smoke bombs towards the Italian parliament. The result is 50 injured police officers and over 40 injured protesters.
But we should not be surprised that Rome is going up in flames. The protesters have been demonstrating over the weeks against the government measures, which also has plans to cut education spending, demanding a change government.
No excuse for violent actions, but perhaps it’s interesting to observe and understand why protesters will go so far as to cause damage to society that they are a part of. They seek to have a voice and change the government and their government policies.
The former anti-corruption judge Antonia Di Pietro, who leads the opposition Italy of Values political party, says that Mr. Berlusconi is finished. The comment from the analysts of the Italian bank UniCredit predicted that the narrow majority would lead to continuing rocky government which will leave the economy in uncertainty. Italy already faces the challenges confronting by the other Euro zone countries such as Greece and Ireland.
Will the Italian Parliamentarian stand by, while the wrath of the Italian public starts to ebb way at their fragile economy and the most importantly the fragile Euro? We don’t need to predict that with a majority of three it is extremely difficult for govern.
Mr. Pietro said: “Whatever the result of the vote you have bought, one thing is clear. You do not have a political majority that would allow you to govern and whether you like it or not, you have reached the end of the line for your political experience.
Coming days will show how Mr. Berlusconi’s government will govern, and if he is truly at the end of his political career. Or we will see Rome burning in flames with angry protesters marching on the streets with their demands to bring the government down.
We might be witnessing history in the making, Mr. Berlusconi, like the emperor Nero in 64 AD wearing stage costume on the balcony of the Italian Parliament singing ‘Sack of Ilium’ as the city burns.
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Semra Eren-Nijhar 