TMCnet News
U.S. editorial excerpts -2-+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)NEW YORK, April 12_(Kyodo) _ Selected editorial excerpts from the U.S. press: ITALIAN VOTE, AMERICAN ECHOES (The New York Times, New York) Italian elections did not used to be like this - so closely fought, so ideologically polarized - in short, so like the American presidential elections of 2004 and 2000. But that was before the era of Silvio Berlusconi, the center-right politician, showman and self-made billionaire who came into this week's election as Italy's longest continuously serving prime minister since World War II. After a long Monday night of seesawing returns, Italians awoke Tuesday to hear that Mr. Berlusconi had lost, by the narrowest of margins, to Romano Prodi, a center-left politician and economist. So is Italy now doomed to five years of paralyzing deadlock? Probably not. If the current numbers hold, Mr. Prodi seems assured of a working legislative majority, provided he can keep together his sometimes fractious center-left coalition. But the slimness of that majority will make it harder for the new government to push through the fiscal, labor market and regulatory reforms that Italy badly needs to revive its flagging economy and provide for its aging population. Mr. Berlusconi's failure to deliver on his own promises of translating his business success into a national economic revival cost him re-election. Mr. Prodi understands well enough what needs to be done. What remains to be seen is whether he can persuade his political allies, especially those from the traditional left, to provide him with the parliamentary support he will need. (April 12) |