Berlusconi weasling his way back in, "according to latest exit polls"

[annabanana]

It sounds to me like Italy's system has gone the way of ours. Apparently he is "clcose enough to steal" the reins back.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7346666.stm

[joeybee12]

1. No, even Italy makes us look good...they haven't been really able

to form a government since after the second world war. The only good thing is that Berlusconi...like all the rest...won't last, even this second time around.

[LeftishBrit]

2. Ugh and double ugh

I'd have credited the Italians with more sense.

[OnTheOtherHand]

3. huh?

These appear to be the initial exit poll results -- and AFAIK the pre-election polls indicated that Berlusconi was ahead.

[Justitia]

4. How depressing. My best friend is from Italy & she's beside herself about this. -eom

[Zynx]

5. Sorry to piss on another electoral conspiracy thread, but he was expected to win.

I've been following the Italian elections for a while and I stopped after I felt a Berlusconi win was inevitable.

[nels25]

6. Just my 2 cents

But Italy to me has always been a prime example of why a 2 party system is much to be preferred over a multi party system.

The nation which in and off it's self should be doing much better than it is has been in pretty much constant political turmoil since the end of the second world war (although I do believe there was a short length of time when Italy had some semblance of political order from the late 50's through the mid 60's)

Multi party systems almost always mean that one party will fail to gain an outright majority at the polls, and will therefore have to form coalition governments.

There are examples where a coalition government helps govern a nation well, but for every 1 of them their are 5 examples of failure.

So warts and all I like the 2 party approach much better, especially a winner take all method.

In this way a party has to take responsibility for the way they govern while in power, or failing that the people by way of election (clean of course) hold the party in question responsible.

:hi: