Resignation of Silvio Berlusconi

Berlusconi in 2011

Silvio Berlusconi resigned his position as Prime Minister of Italy on 12 November 2011 after serving for 10 years over 3 non-consecutive terms in his 17 year political career. He resigned after Italy's lower house of parliament approved new austerity measures. It is believed that Mario Monti will attempt to form an administration through the current financial crisis.

Causes

On 8 November 2011, after he had lost his majority (the lower house voted 380–26 with two abstentions) and public support, Berlusconi announced he would resign once the parliament passed economic reforms. Among other things, Italy's major role in the European financial crisis—the country has estimated debt sum of €1.9 trillion ($2.6 trillion) and has been described by the BBC as "an acute debt crisis that threatens the eurozone"—was a significant factor in Berlusconi losing support and his majority. The austerity package will raise €59.8 billion in savings from cutting spending and raising taxes, including freezing public-sector salaries until 2014 and gradually increasing the retirement age for women in the private sector from 60 in 2014 to 65 in 2026. The resignation also came at a difficult time for Berlusconi, as he was involved in numerous trials for corruption, fraud and sex offences. He was continually having to defend himself during trials and faced over 100 trials during his terms in office. He was often found guilty in lower courts but he used Italy's tortuous legal system to evade incarceration. Berlusconi had also failed to meet some of his pre-election promises and had failed to prevent economic decline and introduce serious reforms. Many believed that the problems and doubts over Berlusconi's leadership and his coalition were one of the factors that contributed to market anxieties over an imminent Italian financial disaster, which could have a potentially catastrophic effect on the 17-nation eurozone and the world economy. Many critics of Berlusconi accused him of using his power primarily to protect his own business ventures.Umberto Bossi, leader of the Northern League, a partner in Berlusconi's rightwing coalition, was quoted as informing reporters outside parliament, "We asked the prime minister to step aside."

Resignation

Palazzo Grazioli

CNN reported on 7 November that Berlusconi had previously denied the rumors that he was going to resign and had stated on his Facebook page that "The rumors of my resignation are groundless."

After a final meeting with his cabinet, Berlusconi met with Italian president Giorgio Napolitano at the Palazzo del Quirinale to hand in his resignation. He confirmed his resignation to the Italian public by a telephone announcement on one of his television channels. Italian news agency ANSA reported that Berlusconi had remarked to his aides that "This is something that deeply saddens me". Berlusconi conceded that he had lost his parliamentary majority and concluded that "things like who leads or who doesn't lead the government was less important than doing what is right for the country." Berlusconi issued a statement that he would not stand for office in Italy again after the budget defeat. In his resignation he was said to have also mentioned "eight traitors", former allies who had abstained.

Response

Piazza del Quirinale

As he arrived at the Palazzo del Quirinale, a hostile crowd gathered with banners shouting insults at Berlusconi and throwing coins at the car and some 200 people marched down the Via del Corso yelling "resign, resign!". After his resignation, the booing and jeering continued as he left in his convoy, with the public shouting words such as "buffoon" and "mafioso". The popularity of this decision was also reflected in the fact that an orchestra performed the hallelujah portion of Handel's "Messiah" in the Piazza del Quirinale outside the president’s official residence, with some vocal accompaniment, and many people danced in the streets. La Repubblica's headline on 13 November was "Berlusconi leaves, party in the streets" whilst La Stampa's headline read "Berlusconi bids farewell, now for Monti".

Political response

President Giorgio Napolitano issued a statement saying that Berlusconi had "demonstrated to the head of state his understanding of the implications of the vote in the chamber of deputies." Opposition leader Pierluigi Bersani of the Democratic Party (PD) said "[He] has not disappeared. He has resigned". Antonio Di Pietro, leader of the Italy of Values, claimed Berlusconi was "taking another month to try to buy a few [parliamentarians]".