Jump to content

2008 Italian government crisis: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
m hyperlinked lower house
better link
Line 2: Line 2:


[[Image:Prodi Heiligendamm G8 2007 001 crop.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Romano Prodi]]
[[Image:Prodi Heiligendamm G8 2007 001 crop.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Romano Prodi]]
On Thursday [[24 January]] [[2008]] [[President of the Council of Ministers of Italy|Prime Minister]] of [[Italy]] [[Romano Prodi]] lost a [[vote]] of [[confidence]] in the [[Italian Senate|Senate]], causing the downfall of his own [[government]].<ref name="BBC">{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7208000.stm | title = Prodi loses crucial Senate vote | publisher = [[BBC]] | author = | date = 2008-01-24 | accessdate = 2008-01-24}}</ref> The vote, held between 3pm and 9pm ([[Central European Time|CET]]), was lost with 161 to 156 votes.<ref name="Corriere">{{it icon}} {{cite web | url = http://www.corriere.it/politica/08_gennaio_24/mussi_elezioni_anticipate_0aa4638e-ca5c-11dc-bbdc-0003ba99c667.shtml | title = Prodi sconfitto in Senato: cade il governo, Il premier al Quirinale per le dimissioni | publisher = [[Corriere della Sera]] | author = | date = 2008-01-24 | accessdate = 2008-01-24}}</ref> The [[debate]] was heated, and during its course the [[UDEUR Populars|UDEUR]] [[party]] Senator [[Stefano Cusumano]], after having broken ranks, fainted.<ref name="Corriere2">{{it icon}} {{cite web | url = http://www.corriere.it/politica/08_gennaio_24/cusumano_nuccio_udeur_02cef526-ca8d-11dc-bbdc-0003ba99c667.shtml | title = Cusumano si dissocia: voto sì. È bagarre | publisher = [[Corriere della Sera]] | author = | date = 2008-01-24 | accessdate = 2008-01-24}}</ref> The UDEUR, a part of Prodi's [[The Olive Tree (political coalition)|Olive Tree]] [[coalition]], had pulled their [[support]] for the Prime Minister after the [[media]] reported an extensive corruption investigation involving [[Italian Minister of Justice|Justice Minister]], and UDEUR leader, [[Clemente Mastella]], his [[wife]] (who is an UDEUR politician in [[Campania]]) and about 30 of his party's high-rankers, prompting Mastella's [[resignation]]. Cusumano vowed to vote in favour of Prodi, and was subjected to the [[abuse]] of his colleagues, both verbal and physical, taking the spit of a former party colleague calling him a traitor and much more.<ref name="BBC" /><ref name="Corriere2" />
On Thursday [[24 January]] [[2008]] [[President of the Council of Ministers of Italy|Prime Minister]] of [[Italy]] [[Romano Prodi]] lost a [[vote]] of confidence]] in the [[Italian Senate|Senate]], causing the downfall of his own [[government]].<ref name="BBC">{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7208000.stm | title = Prodi loses crucial Senate vote | publisher = [[BBC]] | author = | date = 2008-01-24 | accessdate = 2008-01-24}}</ref> The vote, held between 3pm and 9pm ([[Central European Time|CET]]), was lost with 161 to 156 votes.<ref name="Corriere">{{it icon}} {{cite web | url = http://www.corriere.it/politica/08_gennaio_24/mussi_elezioni_anticipate_0aa4638e-ca5c-11dc-bbdc-0003ba99c667.shtml | title = Prodi sconfitto in Senato: cade il governo, Il premier al Quirinale per le dimissioni | publisher = [[Corriere della Sera]] | author = | date = 2008-01-24 | accessdate = 2008-01-24}}</ref> The [[debate]] was heated, and during its course the [[UDEUR Populars|UDEUR]] [[party]] Senator [[Stefano Cusumano]], after having broken ranks, fainted.<ref name="Corriere2">{{it icon}} {{cite web | url = http://www.corriere.it/politica/08_gennaio_24/cusumano_nuccio_udeur_02cef526-ca8d-11dc-bbdc-0003ba99c667.shtml | title = Cusumano si dissocia: voto sì. È bagarre | publisher = [[Corriere della Sera]] | author = | date = 2008-01-24 | accessdate = 2008-01-24}}</ref> The UDEUR, a part of Prodi's [[The Olive Tree (political coalition)|Olive Tree]] [[coalition]], had pulled their [[support]] for the Prime Minister after the [[media]] reported an extensive corruption investigation involving [[Italian Minister of Justice|Justice Minister]], and UDEUR leader, [[Clemente Mastella]], his [[wife]] (who is an UDEUR politician in [[Campania]]) and about 30 of his party's high-rankers, prompting Mastella's [[resignation]]. Cusumano vowed to vote in favour of Prodi, and was subjected to the [[abuse]] of his colleagues, both verbal and physical, taking the spit of a former party colleague calling him a traitor and much more.<ref name="BBC" /><ref name="Corriere2" />


Prodi had already won a similar vote in the [[lower house]] of the [[Parliament of Italy|Parliament]], the [[Italian Chamber of Deputies|Chamber of Deputies]]. Yet a win in the upper house &ndash; or Senate &ndash; seemed unlikely, and [[President of Italy|President]] [[Giorgio Napolitano]] allegedly warned against going through with the vote.<ref name="NYT">{{cite web | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/world/europe/24italy.html?_r=1&oref=slogin | title = Italy Backs Its Coalition but Only Just for Now | publisher = [[New York Times]] | author = Ian Fisher | date = 2008-01-24 | accessdate = 2008-01-24}}</ref> The next step, left to Napolitano, will be either to appoint a [[caretaker government]], or to call a quick [[election]].<ref name="BBC" /> It is expected that such an election would be won by former Prime Minister [[Silvio Berlusconi]] and his [[centre-right]] [[Political party|party]] [[Forza Italia]].<ref name="BBC" />
Prodi had already won a similar vote in the [[lower house]] of the [[Parliament of Italy|Parliament]], the [[Italian Chamber of Deputies|Chamber of Deputies]]. Yet a win in the upper house &ndash; or Senate &ndash; seemed unlikely, and [[President of Italy|President]] [[Giorgio Napolitano]] allegedly warned against going through with the vote.<ref name="NYT">{{cite web | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/world/europe/24italy.html?_r=1&oref=slogin | title = Italy Backs Its Coalition but Only Just for Now | publisher = [[New York Times]] | author = Ian Fisher | date = 2008-01-24 | accessdate = 2008-01-24}}</ref> The next step, left to Napolitano, will be either to appoint a [[caretaker government]], or to call a quick [[election]].<ref name="BBC" /> It is expected that such an election would be won by former Prime Minister [[Silvio Berlusconi]] and his [[centre-right]] [[Political party|party]] [[Forza Italia]].<ref name="BBC" />

Revision as of 10:56, 25 January 2008

Romano Prodi

On Thursday 24 January 2008 Prime Minister of Italy Romano Prodi lost a vote of confidence]] in the Senate, causing the downfall of his own government.[1] The vote, held between 3pm and 9pm (CET), was lost with 161 to 156 votes.[2] The debate was heated, and during its course the UDEUR party Senator Stefano Cusumano, after having broken ranks, fainted.[3] The UDEUR, a part of Prodi's Olive Tree coalition, had pulled their support for the Prime Minister after the media reported an extensive corruption investigation involving Justice Minister, and UDEUR leader, Clemente Mastella, his wife (who is an UDEUR politician in Campania) and about 30 of his party's high-rankers, prompting Mastella's resignation. Cusumano vowed to vote in favour of Prodi, and was subjected to the abuse of his colleagues, both verbal and physical, taking the spit of a former party colleague calling him a traitor and much more.[1][3]

Prodi had already won a similar vote in the lower house of the Parliament, the Chamber of Deputies. Yet a win in the upper house – or Senate – seemed unlikely, and President Giorgio Napolitano allegedly warned against going through with the vote.[4] The next step, left to Napolitano, will be either to appoint a caretaker government, or to call a quick election.[1] It is expected that such an election would be won by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his centre-right party Forza Italia.[1]

Prodi had been in office for 20 months, after winning the elections of April 2006.[4] In February 2007, the Prime Minister handed in his resignation, only to be asked to remain by the President, and winning a vote of confidence in the Parliament.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Prodi loses crucial Senate vote". BBC. 2008-01-24. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  2. ^ Template:It icon "Prodi sconfitto in Senato: cade il governo, Il premier al Quirinale per le dimissioni". Corriere della Sera. 2008-01-24. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  3. ^ a b Template:It icon "Cusumano si dissocia: voto sì. È bagarre". Corriere della Sera. 2008-01-24. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  4. ^ a b Ian Fisher (2008-01-24). "Italy Backs Its Coalition but Only Just for Now". New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  5. ^ "Prodi's fragile bloc struggles on". BBC. 2007-02-28. Retrieved 2008-01-24.