Prodi Wins

[Me.]

<<<snip>>
“In the Chamber of Deputies, the lower branch of parliament, the Union received 49.8 per cent of all votes cast compared with 49.7 per cent for the centre-right.

Just 25,000 votes separated the two coalitions, but it was enough for Prodi to receive a comfortable majority - 348 versus 281 - under Italy's new electoral system, which awards a 'seats bonus' to the winning coalition.

The Senate race saw Berlusconi's House of Freedoms prevail - 50.2 per cent versus 48.9 per cent for Prodi. However, a different seat allocation system is in place here, meaning Prodi was allocated 158 seats compared to 156 for Berlusconi.”cont…

“Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, who is the ultimate arbiter of Italian politics, has already said the election was fair and free from irregularities.” Cont…

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/article_1154498.php/Prodi_awarded_victory_Berlusconi_refuses_to_concede_defeat

[cliss]

1. Thank God. I wonder why

the US didn't rig this vote? That's our specialty. We're awesome exports here at home, and have had lots of outsourcing practice in Central and South America. Look at all those countries: they've all gone Leftist. Has Washington forgotten about these countries?

Seriously: is Washington so distracted and bogged down with Iraq & Afghanistan?

Berluscolini should have J~U~S~T squeeked by with a narrow ~whew~~ margin. Hm.

[Me.]

3. I Wondered Why Berlusconi Didn't

all that money, his tight clench on everything...

[MADem]

2. Sylvio remains unconvinced, though.....

Speaking for the first time since the elections were held, Berlusconi said it was too early for Prodi to claim victory as contested ballots had yet to be checked.

'We will only recognise the Union's victory after the vote has been verified,' Berlusconi told a press conference in Rome.

The premier said there were 'many irregularities' that threatened to invalidate the vote of Italian expatriates, who for the first time were allowed to vote in this election.

[Me.]

4. Too Bad For The Crybaby Billionaire

But...“Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, who is the ultimate arbiter of Italian politics, has already said the election was fair and free from irregularities.” And that's the bottom line. Say Good Night Gracie..er..Silvo.

[MADem]

5. He's still not giving up, though--the SUPREME COURT enters, stage right!!!

Wish I were making it up, but I am not--and concurrently, they are going for vote supression of "enemy" ballots....just like Florida:

With regard to the final outcome, I think it would be wise to wait for the Supreme Court and the normal checking procedures that are being carried out by the electoral authorities," he said .

"Prodi should acknowledge that Berlusconi has not lost and that half of the country backs the premier," he added .

Agriculture Minister Giovanni Alemanno said that "in cases like this, I think a recount is indispensable because with a margin of 0.01%, not repeating the count would be unfair to Italians" .

If the centre right succeeds in obtaining a recount, it could take several weeks before an official result is given. Berlusconi spent the morning out of sight, huddled away in consultation with his coalition allies . http://ansa.it/main/notizie/awnplus/english/news/2006-04-11_11110002.html

[Me.]

6. I Hope Prodi Fights Like A Tiger

and doesn't give an inch. I'm wondering how many of those out of the country ballots were from Italian soldiers in Iraq?

[MADem]

7. Oh, hell, plenty of them were from Luigi or Paolo in the North End of

Boston, from Gennaro and Renata in New York, from Yolanda and Vicenzo in Philly. US citizens ALL.

You don't give up your Italian citizenship when you take US citizenship over here. Or in any other country. It's a lot like Israel--you got it, forever and ever, AMEN.

The Italian soldiers serving abroad are a minority in all this--their votes are inconsequential in the big picture. Even the Italian citizens who are abroad for work or play are a minority. The majority of voters are legal aliens on the path to citizenship or naturalized citizens of many nations, from the US, to Canada, to the UK, all over Europe, Australia...there are a boatload of 'em.