Berlusconi in, Monti out

It’s hard not to be captivated by the current drama of Italy’s politics.  It's sort of like watching a demolition derby where a tank of an old Lincoln Town Car tries to destroy all the beat-up Fords and Chevrolets on the track.  Silvio Berlusconi, after announcing his retirement, is back with a vengeance.  He says he’s running again for prime minister, and, notwithstanding recent polls which give him and his party only about 18 percent, he says he's in it to win.  Alexander Stille describes his return as a case of moving from tragedy to farce.  (I wish his La Repubblica columns were available in English.  Update: Turns out this one is, in the New Republic. ) 

Berlusconi made his announcement claiming that Italy is worse off after a year of Mario Monti’s government than it was when he -- Il Cavaliere -- was forced to resign just over a year ago in November 2011.  He back to save Italy once again, he claims.  It should be remembered that he resigned because because financial markets, which to say the least, distrusted his management of the government, were threatening to push the country into default.

Berlusconi didn't just announce his return to politics.  A couple of days ago, he instructed his party members in the Chamber of Deputies and in the Senate, all of whom owe their seats to him, to start voting against Monti government proposals.  These votes wouldn’t automatically bring down the government as long as other parties continue to provide support.  But that support, in the Senate at least, is questionable from vote to vote.

So today Monti announced his resignation effective as soon as the legislature passes a budget.  And elections, which had been tentatively scheduled for 10 March, may now happen earlier.  It's been suggested that Monti wants to give Berlusconi as little time as possible to use his government as a punching bag.  He may also calculate that the sooner elections are held the more voters will likely remember who it was that ended a very popular government.