[Via... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ] . . ----- Original Message ----- From: Downwithcapitalism <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2001 4:41 AM Subject: [downwithcapitalism] FW: Berlusconi wins Reuters, with files from The Daily Telegraph. 15 May 2001. Berlusconi to run Italy "like a company." Excerpts. Analysis at bottom. ROME Silvio Berlusconi, the billionaire tycoon, swept back to power in Italy yesterday, promising to end years of unstable governments and run the country "like a company." His dramatic victory prompted a cautious reaction from Italy's European Union partners, nervous about his right-wing coalition allies, but there was no threat of sanctions like those the EU imposed on Austria last year for similar reasons. Mr. Berlusconi's bloc -- his Forza Italia party, the far-right National Alliance and the devolutionist Northern League -- won an absolute majority in the upper house Senate and was also poised to take the Chamber of Deputies. His opponent, centre-left leader Francesco Rutelli, conceded defeat, paving the way for Mr. Berlusconi to become prime minister again after seven years in opposition. Mr. Berlusconi, speaking publicly for the first time since he voted on Sunday morning, vowed to form a strong administration capable of lasting a full five-year legislative term -- something Italy's 58 previous governments have failed to do. Mr. Berlusconi has promised a mixture of "Thatcherite" tax cuts and populist plans to spend heavily on infrastructure. Critics say the policies defy economic logic and could cause a budget deficit crisis and weaken the euro. Mr. Berlusconi was supported by former British prime minister Margaret Thatche. <>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<>--<> WSWS. 15 May 2001. Berlusconi wins parliamentary vote. Excerpts. Tensely awaited parliamentary elections in Italy have ended with a victory for media boss Silvio Berlusconi and his alliance of right-wing parties assembled under the banner House of Freedoms. Even as the initial, still indecisive results were being reported Sunday evening, Berlusconi declared himself the winner. His election manager warned, If they do not declare us the winners, we will take to the streets in our millions. ... The election victory of Berlusconi's right-wing alliance represents a renewed shift to the right in Italian politics and has major consequences for coming developments in Europe. Berlusconi, who names Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher as his political idols, combines pro-business, free market policies with vague rhetoric about reform of the Italian economy and state. He advocates a substantial cut in taxes combined with privatisation of state-run enterprises and private inroads into state-run social welfare programs. Throughout the campaign Berlusconi sought to deflect criticisms of his vast wealth and shady business practices by declaring all such accusations to be communist propaganda. Berlusconi, who owns three of Italy's most influential television channels as well as the country's biggest construction and property concerns, is the wealthiest man in Italy, with a fortune of $13 billion. He is also widely considered to be one of the most corrupt politicians in all of Europe. He first won power in 1994 but was forced to resign as prime minister after only seven months when it became clear that he was using his governmental power to further his own entrepreneurial aims. Prior to the election, the conservative British magazine Economist proclaimed on its front cover that Berlusconi was unfit to rule. It declared, In any self-respecting democracy it would be unthinkable that the man assumed to be on the verge of being elected prime minister would recently have come under investigation for, among other things, money-laundering, complicity in murder, connections with the Mafia, tax evasion and the bribing of politicians, judges and the tax police. The article concluded, the election of Mr. Berlusconi as prime minister would mark a dark day for Italian democracy and the rule of law. SPAM TO FOLLOW Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
