I skimmed through the comments, but one really caught my eye:
"More than a comment, I would like some information: I have a number of relatives in Brazil (mostly in Sao Paulo), relatives who will be voting; only a few of them speak Italian, and so even my e-mails might not be very effective. Is there any material available via computer in Portuguese that gives information on the Unione’s policies and the voting procedure and candidate profiles? If so, could I please have a copy to send them?"
Now I'm even more worried. I mean, if these "Italian" voters don't even speak Italian, how many generations back have they gone to allow people of Italian origin to be eligible to vote? "Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." - Mark Twain
I would think that if someone doesn't speak Italian, but only Portuguese, it would mean that they were born in a Portuguese-speaking country, and have done very little to maintain their Italian culture and ties to Italy. They may have dual citizenship (through their parents and their birthplace). Why should they care to vote in Italian elections?
There's probably an explanation... maybe I'm just nitpicking.
But, as in Bushland, there's just so much that stinks in Berlusconilandia, that it's hard to distinguish exactly between what's rotten and what's not: anything and everything they say or do seems to merit suspicion. "Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." - Mark Twain
As far as political forcast, four are likely to go to the left with a strong possibility of two more. The only region that will definitely go to the right, Sicily, is helped by the other right wing stronghold, Veneto, which got another senator in the deal.
Since senators can't be cut in pieces, the number of senators in each region for the winning coalition fluxuates around 55%. The loser gets about 45% regardless of how bad they showed.
Despite all the mathematical hocumpocum to wittle out a spare senator here and there, the Union still has an advantage of at least 8 senators.
Still a far cry from the obscene majority B enjoyed these past five years and so mismanaged.
About the Portuguese-speaking Italians, you're right. They don't really seem to be Italian, but rather objects of manipulation.
