Another curious turn of events involves the Marrazzo case in which Berlusconi and his daughter could be charged with having received illegal goods, the DVD of Marrazzo being framed by cops with a trans and cocaine.

A further concern is the appeals court case against Senator Dell'Utri for cohersion with the mafia. The court has admitted the testimony of Gasparre Spatuzza. Spatuzza's collaboration with the law, along with the revelations of the son of the mafia go-between Vito Ciancimino, has shed light on the mafia's war against the state in the early 90's. Both Spatuzza and Massimo Ciancimino have declared that a political deal with Berlusconi was sought through Dell'Utri after a first deal fell through with the then powerful Democrat-Christians.

Despite the declarations of Berlusconi that he has no intention of stepping down from power if he is condemned, more opportunistic and wiser spirits are jockeying silently behind the scenes.

There is a power void in Italy these days. A silence before the tempest.

Berlusconi has literaly disappeared for ten days, first in Russia as if he were de Gaulle off to see Jacques Massu.

The most exceptional event is the closing down of parliament for the next ten days, ostensibly because there's nothing to do for lack of financial coverage. This has never happened before. Granted that this legislation has seen parliament reduced to a rubberstamp outhouse that need only meet to approve government "emergency" decrees, all without exception designed to resolve his personal affairs.

Berlusconi may be preparing a blitzkreig of brute force, for prudence and strategy are no longer his strong points. Prudence would have it to let him act out his folly for all to see. Let him be his own undoing. As with Prodi, only a single vote is needed to sink his government.

But as the Gattopardo said, "Everything changes in Italy, so that nothing changes."