Italians Reject Changes to Constitution

[Judi Lynn]

Italians Reject Changes to Constitution
By MARIA SANMINIATELLI, Associated Press Writer

Monday, June 26, 2006

(06-26) 09:41 PDT ROME, Italy (AP) --

Italians soundly rejected massive changes to the country's postwar constitution that proponents had argued would increase political stability and modernize the country, near-final returns showed Monday.

The results at the end of the two-day vote marked a victory for the center-left government of Romano Prodi, who had said change was necessary but opposed these reforms as a slipshod effort that gave too much power to the executive.

"It's a comforting result, which reassures us and invites us to push ahead," said Arturo Parisi, defense minister and longtime Prodi aide.

Former conservative Premier Silvio Berlusconi, whose government devised the reforms, had urged citizens to approve the changes to strengthen the premier's powers, transfer some authority from Rome to the country's regions and reduce the number of lawmakers.
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/06/26/international/i094011D34.DTL&type=politics

[endarkenment]

1. FU Berlusconi

Good for the Italian people.

[acmavm]

2. Berlusconi just doesn't give up, does he?

[blue4barb]

3. The "too much power to the executive" sure sounds familiar.

Are you paying attention, politicians and corporate media? Most likely they've got their ignore button on again.

[David__77]

4. Prosecute Berlusconi now!

His power must be broken. He is a big-time criminal and fascist. The people will support this.

[billyoc]

5. "too much power for the executive"

And I was *so* looking forward to the trains running on time again... :eyes: