But within Italy, Mr Berlusconi's fallible humanity and the fact that he is not so obsessed with power play that he has no time for the sweeter things in life, are seen by many as points in his favour.
Berlusconi is driven by the need of power. All of his laws consolidate his paranoid mania for power, his need to control reality and impose his brand of Truth. As for "the sweeter things in life" he's anthropologically incapable of perceiving them- staging photo-opportunity wholesomeness goes hand in hand with the Fellini-like scene of an old man drenched in makeup dancing very tightly with a high class entreneuse before an audience of the latest brand of female beauty, 20 strong. Nocturnal twilight, a sad scene from Roma or Casanova.
Berlusconi's party did not break through as he advertised. Further Berlusconi associated his image with what was in the final analysis local and provincial politics which, as ever, reflects local realities. Milan was lost by a few thousand votes, which translates into a lively assembly with a strong opposition. The "Freedom People" practically disappeared from the map four years ago when the center left wiped them out everywhere (five million only left to the right). Now that they've come back they still have not recovered equal footing. It looks nice on a geopolitical map, but that doesn't reflect the actual numbers.It's a stalled situation where everone sings victory while no one won.
The proximity of the scandal to the summit revives unpleasant memories for Mr Berlusconi: at a summit in 1994, during his first term as PM, he was served with legal papers alleging corruption. Soon afterwards he resigned.
He was summoned to be interrogated on a corruption case. It is suspected that he arranged events so that he would be served during the summit. His resignation had utterly nothing to do the that event. Bossi pulled out of the government, thus forcing the government into minority.
The "Freedom People" practically disappeared from the map four years ago when the center left wiped them out everywhere (five million only left to the right).
There is also the long wave of the rightwing message that trumpets insecurity and intolerance enough to motivate the lazy voter to vote.
In the present situation the electoral law has disenfranchised over eight percent of those who vote. The far left parties are stupidly divided into three groups none capable of mustering votes to get over the 4% barrier. Together they total between 8 and 9%.
Berlusconi is more likely to be ousted by his own coalition. He continues to accuse the left of some sort of subversive plot when all the press is doing is their job: inform the public. If ever there were a plot it would be among his own, not necessarily for noble reasons. D'Addario candidly declared several times that she went public on her one night stand because Berlusconi did not deliver on a promise. But what goaded her on was the fact that the Bari Procura had started interrogating people near her.
The latest news flash is that one of the women who has testified in the case has had her car burned. However la Repubblica site is temporarily down on that- perhaps too much traffic.
Further key developments- and a great thanks to the foreign press for focusing on Italy- are that the secret service oversight committee is holding hearings on the anomalous situation of Berlusconi's body guards. The Council president should be under escort of special police services that depend on the Minister of the Interior. On the contrary he is using his private guards that have been directed through the secret services. He is guarded by his own thugs, Uzis included (says a unverifiable source). When D'Addario tried to approach Berlusconi ten days ago it was these guards that blocked her off, one in particular who she recalls watched Berlusconi and her make out in front of him.
This brings up the accusations made by Berlusconi's primetime grovelers that the State had not protected him and his privacy. The oversight committee has discovered that the State has been co-opted by his own private services. It's doubtful he could have his indulged in his pathetic orgies with plenty of cocaine had his body guards been effectively appointed by the Ministry of the Interior.
There are more details today on the burglary in Ms. D'Addario's home. She declared today that the house was ransacked and all electronic devices were stolen as well as the dress she wore the night she passed with Berlusconi. I suppose Berlusconi was afraid on Ken Starr and Monica's frozen dress.
