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File Photo - Andrew Medichini/AP/Press Association Images

Political crisis in Italy as Berlusconi's ministers resign

The five ministers stepped down yesterday after what’s been called a ‘crazy act’ of encouragement from the former leader.

CENTRE-RIGHT MINISTERS have resigned from Italy’s fragile coalition government, unleashing a fresh political crisis after what Prime Minister Enrico Letta called a “crazy act” of encouragement by their leader Silvio Berlusconi.

All five ministers of the People of Freedom (PDL) party took the decision at Berlusconi’s urging, said Angelino Alfano, Italy’s deputy premier and PDL party secretary.

The flamboyant former prime minister had dismissed as “unacceptable” a demand by Letta on Friday for parliament to express support for the government next week, in a bid to end a crisis that has driven the bickering ruling coalition to the brink of collapse.

Letta’s government was cobbled together following a two-month stand-off after an inconclusive general election in February, and while the government has launched major reforms, it has been hobbled by the tensions.

Letta of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) has won the confidence of financial markets by managing to keep together the improbable right-left coalition.

But a brewing revolt among Berlusconi’s backers boiled over on Thursday when they threatened to resign over the media mogul’s legal problems.

Vote

A Senate committee was preparing to vote on whether to eject Berlusconi, 76, from the chamber after he was sentenced to a year in prison for tax fraud, a ruling that was upheld by Italy’s top court in August.

His allies said the vote would be the ultimate consequence of a long-running left-wing plot aimed at destroying his political career.

On Friday Letta told a cabinet meeting, tasked with approving key measures to rein in the recession-hit country’s budget deficit, that no further legislation would be enacted until the political crisis was resolved.

The cabinet had convened to determine how to delay a controversial planned rise in value added tax, but the meeting ended in disarray amid the escalating tension over Berlusconi’s tax fraud conviction.

As a result, the VAT hike from 21 percent to 22 percent will go ahead, with effect from Tuesday, as economists worry that it will dampen consumption.

Encouragement

In encouraging the PDL ministers to resign, Berlusconi said they should not be “complicit in the latest vexation imposed on Italians by the left”.

He added: “The prime minister’s decision yesterday to freeze government action, thus leading to the rise in the VAT, is a serious violation of the government pact.”

Letta retorted: “To try to justify his crazy and irresponsible act, aimed fully at protecting his personal interests, Berlusconi is… using the VAT as an alibi.”

In a brief statement, he added: “Italians will recognise such a big lie… and return it to the sender.”

Sentence

Three-time premier Berlusconi, who was convicted on August 1, is to serve the sentence at home or by doing community service. But the most biting punishment for the billionaire who has dominated Italian politics in or out of power for the past two decades is that he will henceforth be ineligible for public office.

With the PDL ministers unlikely to return, the next moves on the political chessboard are uncertain. Letta could try to form another government, counting on various defections and the support of left-wing groups.

A new primarily left-wing government may have little room for manoeuvre.

Former comedian Beppe Grillo, head of the anti-establishment Five Star Movment, repeated his call for fresh elections, but these would likely result in just as great a stalemate unless the electoral law is first modified.

© AFP, 2013

Read: Margaret Thatcher’s ashes laid to rest in London service >

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    Mute Lou Tennant
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    Oct 13th 2015, 11:43 AM

    She should move to FF, they’re mad to elect the wimmin

    95
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    Mute Freebetcitydcom Mike
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    Oct 13th 2015, 11:47 AM

    Richard Bruton wrote a letter in support of TTIP because someone had dirt on him.

    We’re going to stop TTIP, you gutter dwelling rat.

    93
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    Mute Vote Left Ireland
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    Oct 13th 2015, 11:47 AM

    and all this after he failed the selection convention only to have his name added as a 3rd candidate by the leadership? Starting to get the impression these are not members of a party but individual careerists in competition with themselves as much as the opposition.

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    Mute Ben McArthur
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    Oct 13th 2015, 11:49 AM

    I wonder if the explanation was that Regan currently has about half a million posters splattered over North Dublin, not one of which mentions Richard Bruton?

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    Mute Vote Left Ireland
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    Oct 13th 2015, 11:50 AM

    They are running against each other not with. As much love between them as Joan burton and Mary Lou Macdonald

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Oct 13th 2015, 12:45 PM

    Mr Bruton did a lot of running away from his constituents lately.

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    Mute Stephen Brady
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    Oct 13th 2015, 11:46 AM

    What happened to honour among thieves? A true s(umb@g

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    Mute Muiris O'Daltuin
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    Oct 13th 2015, 12:22 PM

    If you look back over the Vincent Browne’s Peoples Debate from Dublin Bay North, Stephanie Reegan’s has a go a Bruton and the government ministers straight off the bat. She and many other Fine Gaelers are not happy with the leadership (the leader in particular) but are too cowardly to do anything about ahead of the election. If this this upcoming election is a flop for Fine Gael and it may well be, the knives will be out.

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    Mute ReChew A.
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    Oct 13th 2015, 10:39 PM

    Muiris I dont know what you want from a leader .
    Do we all just look admiringly at him for 35 years without a word of dissent or question or do we appreciate a leader who gets down to the business of building the best economy in the OECD despite the black hole the taoiseach inherited only 4.5 years ago .Get real Muiris .

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    Mute Muiris O'Daltuin
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    Oct 14th 2015, 12:12 PM

    My comment wasn’t reflecting my personal opinion on Kenny and the Fine Gael parliamentary party. It was an observation on back benchers and FG members opinions of Kenny, who are not happy with his performance, hence candidates like Reegan attempting to distance themselves from some of Kenny’s policies ahead of the general election. It’s time you got real and actually open your eyes to what’s going on around you. Go look at the Peoples Debate and come back and tell me all is well within Fine Gael.

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    Mute Adrian
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    Oct 13th 2015, 12:12 PM

    Bruton talks the talk with all his jobs, jobs and more jobs, but i’m not sure he walks the walk.

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    Mute Cillan32
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    Oct 13th 2015, 12:41 PM

    FG in disarray in Dublin bay north … No surprise they are back stabbing each other .. Regan hasn’t a hope of being elected here . Only a few hundred bothered voting for her in the locals .

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    Mute ReChew A.
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    Oct 13th 2015, 10:47 PM

    The competition to gain at least two seats for FG is intense as one can expect ,augurs very well for success .

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    Mute @mdmak33
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    Oct 13th 2015, 12:44 PM

    they are all back stabbing. they have no respect for party colleagues, how could they have respect for citizens.

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    Mute LesBehan
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    Oct 13th 2015, 12:49 PM

    Sure weren’t they trying to get rid of Enda 6 months before the election.

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Oct 13th 2015, 1:13 PM

    These guys don’t make mistakes.

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    Mute Sweet Jesus
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    Oct 13th 2015, 1:27 PM

    No great secret. All the male colleagues are mentioned but the only Female is omitted. Is this a variation of ” Jobs for De Boys “

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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Oct 13th 2015, 3:34 PM

    There’s probably a simple explanation.

    Oversight at the printers probably!

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