A meeting between Silvio Berlusconi and Italy’s President Napolitano took place this evening. The meeting was supposed to be a presentation by Berlusconi of anti-crisis proposals for structural reforms and discussion on who is to succeed current Bank of Italy governor Mario Draghi – but detailed information on the contents of meeting was conspicuous by its absence.
The encounter between Italy’s besieged Prime Minister and the nations President has now drawn to a close. No statement was made by Berlusconi as he left the Presidential offices in Rome.
The questions buzzing around a few heads this evening in Italy are:
- Did the subject of Berlusconi’s resignation come up?
- Has Berlusconi resigned or will he do so very shortly?
Berlusconi is facing ever increasing pressure to step down.
Today two major Italian newspapers – Il Corriere della Sera and Il Sole 24 Ore carried editorials in which requests were made for Berlusconi to resign for the good of Italy. Furthermore, long time associate and friend of Silvio Berlusconi, Fedele Confalonieri is reported to have told Berlusconi to call it a day.
The volume of the calls for Berlusconi to do is reaching a crescendo and there are some signs that those within his party are on the point of requesting Berlusconi to go. There was yet another a meeting today – this time between Italy’s Interior Minister Roberto Maroni and the leader of Italy’s Senate, Renato Schifani and it is suspected that Berlusconi’s future was one of the main subjects.
Stop reading, start speaking
Stop translating in your head and start speaking Italian for real with the only audio course that prompt you to speak.
Maybe, maybe not – so far, Berlusconi has refused to consider the possibility of his resigning.
News of the Berlusconi/Napolitano will appear shortly – I’m waiting with baited breath.
UPDATE 09:20 21 September 2011:
No Resignation from Berlusconi
Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano has reported that Berlusconi told Italy’s President Napolitano that he has absolutely no intention of resigning – so the subject of Berlusconi’s wobbly position did come up after all.
Berlusconi argues that as his party still holds the majority in Italy’s parliament, he’ll only go if his government loses a confidence vote – which seems unlikely – unless more of his “majority” end up in prison, that is – and this might happen.
Photo credit
Image of Berlusconi used by kind permission of @Mario C
