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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 Liz Giltinane
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 2:32 PM

    Bill Gates does amazing work for the third world, so not a bad person to see topping the list.

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    Mute Julian King
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 4:10 PM

    I’m sure he could be doing more if he’s got 59 billion in his account.

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    Mute Chris lynch
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 4:31 PM

    @Julian – he is givening most of it away to Charities in his will.

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    Mute Paul Murphy
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 1:55 PM

    I’m pretty sure theres a couple of electricians working for the ESB that should be on the list…

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    Mute John
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 1:38 PM

    But are they happy….?

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    Mute Chris lynch
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 1:56 PM

    ya

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    Mute Mike Reid
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 1:57 PM

    Bill looks happy :)

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    Mute Wujashtop
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 4:11 PM

    I’ve met David Koch many times… Nice guy and yes he’s happy.

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    Mute Simon Finglas
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 6:07 PM

    No, but they can cry in their $200m yacht!

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    Mute Angels Spain
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 1:36 PM

    Hmm that can’t be right! Where is the president of Ireland on that list ?????????

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    Mute Thomas Mc Carthy
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 11:21 PM

    You know what is sickening those five people have more than 250 billion of the worlds resources. How many lives could they save, how could they make the world a better place if they gave even half of it away. Everything that’s wrong with the world is manifested in that list, pure greed.

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    Mute Simon Power
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 6:22 PM

    Warren Buffett is also heavily involved in the Gates Foundation and has allowed his name to be put on Obama’s new tax measures that intend to close tax loop holes for the mega wealthy. It will never pass gestation but it has good intentions.

    Lest we also forget that Gates was a ruthless cut throat towards his competitors even by American standards. I guess he wants to repent or polish his legacy or both.

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    Mute Julian King
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 4:56 PM

    No time like the present, why doesn’t he donate ten or twenty billion now, I’m sure he’ll survive.

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    Mute Thomas Mc Carthy
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 11:22 PM

    You the man

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    Mute Aydo
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 2:04 PM

    In all seriousness, who cares?

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    Mute Chris lynch
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 3:44 PM

    You seem you care – you didn’t have to click the link to the story if you didn’t care

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    Mute ponythegringo
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    Sep 23rd 2011, 2:24 AM

    I can’t believe David Hasselhof didn’t make it into the top ten…?

    He must be drinking more than I thought.

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    Mute Jonathan Hayes
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    Sep 22nd 2011, 6:19 PM

    David Koch only has $25? I might have more!

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