While his tenure has as prime minister has been marred by repeated personal scandals, and a troubling roll back in press freedom, the end cause Silvio Berlusconi’s downfall may actually end up being political — though he wouldn’t be Il Cavaliere if the story didn’t come with a sordid twist.
Berlusconi has been the bain of the Italian left and pluralist democrats everywhere for nearly a decade. The former media mogul has consolidated power, often with the help of the extreme right Lega Nord party, and exerts great influence over all elements of Italian society, including the judiciary and media. Berlusconi owns the major Italian private television broadcast channels (in addition to various newspapers and magazines), and as prime minister has great influnce over state-owned media. Italy ranks 49th on Reporter Sans Frontieres’ 2010 Press Freedom Index, tied with Burkina Faso and 24th out of 27 European Union member states.
Now it seems Berlusconi’s government will face a no-confidence vote in Italian parliament Dec. 14, the same day the Constitutional Court is to rule on a law that gives Berlusconi and other high-level officials immunity from prosecution while in office, and just days after lawmakers are slated to approve the 2011 budget.
Berlusconi’s largest hurdle to stay in power is to overcome a split with longtime ally Gianfranco Fini, which occured earlier this year. Fini is a co-founder of Berlusconi’s People of Liberty Party, but split with the prime minister in the summer, accusing Berlusconi of eliminating debate within his own party. Fini has since gone on to form a new political party, and may have enough votes to bring down the government.
Fini and his allies voted for Berlusconi’s government in another no-confidence vote held in late September, but one the prime minister’s trademark scandals has further frayed their relations, with Fini calling for Berlusconi’s resignation during a Nov. 7 speech. Fini has also been hesitant to risk a government collapse until next year’s budget is passed.
The latest scandal erupted after news broke of Berlusconi intervening on behalf of a 17-year-old exotic dancer who had been accused of theft by police. The woman has attended some of the infamous parties at the prime minister’s Sardininian villa.
That villa is the same place former Prime Minister Mirek Topálanek was photographed nude while vactioning. Those photos were published by the Spanish daily El Pais as part of an investigation into whether Berlsuconi was using government owned airplanes to fly personal guests to his villa. The investigation was successfully barred from publication in Italian media by courts, at the behest of Berlusconi and his allies.
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