The supreme court judge emeritus Gustavo Zagrabelsky described berlusconismo in this way as Nihilism, the drive for power in itself.
As for B's opportunistic remark that he is a liberalist, he has been derided by European liberals- Poettering, as I recall some years ago. B built his power on corruption, irregular government concessions, money laundering and obscure windfalls of incredible amounts of money from unknown sources. That has nothing to do with modern capitalism nor liberalism. 1880's robber baron capitalism, yes.
As I see it the state threathened a hostile take-over of his fortune, so he did a hostile take-over of the state. Now he uses it to build his power ever more. Not much of a political program, but he can not let go or he might get prosecuted again... A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!
As I see it the state threathened a hostile take-over of his fortune
Looming charges of fraudulent bankruptcy. He was deeply in debt yet had a near monopoly of national TV.
but he can not let go or he might get prosecuted again...
He is too old to serve time even if he were condemned in a future trial. He presently has his involvement in the Mill's affair pending, but that would soon be quashed by the statute of limitations. The only other crimes he could have going are those that he is presently committing, for which he cannot be investigated so long as he is in power. Time passes, evidence disappears. An ideal setup, his self-inflicted immunity, to commit crime.
B came to power in order to avoid prosecution, right?
Also, a big also.
That has nothing to do with modern capitalism nor liberalism. 1880's robber baron capitalism, yes.
I often think that "modern capitalism" is just 1880s robber baron capitalism in technicolour.
- Jake If you only spend 20 minutes of the rest of your life on economics, go spend them here.
