Italian Election Intrigue
As Americans watch the slugfest going on in Italy between the current prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and Romano Prodi, the man who is leading in current polls to become the new Italian prime minister after the voting on April 9-10, we realize how tame our elections are in the United States.
In their recent televised debate Berlusconi used some derogatory comments to describe his opponent. Berlusconi, Italy’s longest serving prime minister in half a century, is certainly colorful in his actions and in his speeches.
Berlusconi, who in addition to being the prime minister is the nation’s wealthiest man who owns most of the media, may not have improved Italy’s economy or employment picture but he has certainly entertained his fellow countrymen and women.
Now, if the polls are to be believed, the former head of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, who is rather dull and bland compared to Berlusconi, will take over as the new prime minister with his left of center coalition. His patched together coalition may topple Berlusconi but I would have to bet against his new government having anywhere near the longevity of Berlusconi’s time in power.
And, as final polls are very close it is too soon to say arrivederci to Berlusconi. But, if he does not win President Bush will lose one of his key European allies fighting in Iraq. Prodi has said he will pull all Italian troops out of Iraq if he is elected.
France's Springtime Demonstrations
It is springtime in Paris and the demonstrators are out in force once again. This time, with many universities closed and tourism suffering, the students and the unions are protesting a law which might actually make it easier for an employer to fire younger workers. President Chirac signed the new jobs bill into law and then immediately said he would work to soften the law he just signed. While Chirac will remain in power as president, in times like these, it is often the case that the president looks for a new prime minister so it would not be wise to bet too many euros or dollars that the current prime minister De Villepin will have a lengthy stay in his office.
At least the demonstrators are colorful as the police are shooting paint bullets at them which explode into many colors on their bodies and make them easier to identify for the police to arrest. Stay tuned as the demonstration season is in full gear in France.
Florida's French basketball connection
Speaking of France, who would have thought the most valuable player for Florida, Joakim Noah, would have been born in France. Florida which won the NCAA basketball title on Monday handily over UCLA brought a new star to the national stage. Noah, whose father was a world-class tennis player in France is now a well known reggae singer. The younger Noah, who will command a fortune, if he turns pro next year in the NBA, was raised in New York by his mother who was once a Miss Sweden and now pursues a career as a sculptor.
New Transatlantic Diplomatic Power Couple
The new power couple in transatlantic relations is Secretary of State Condi Rice and British Foreign Minister Jack Straw. Straw visited Rice in her home state of Alabama last year and took in an Alabama college football game with the secretary of state. Straw reciprocated acting as host to Rice this week in England in his town of Blackburn which he represents in Parliament and Liverpool, the hometown of the Beatles. Rice listened not only to rock and roll music but to the many demonstrators protesting against American involvement in Iraq. Later Straw and Rice traveled together to visit Iraq and then flew back to London to have dinner with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Will Afghanistan be their next stop? |
