What kind of Italian prime minister would Angelino Alfano make?

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Kevin Lees

Due to electoral law considerations, Italy hasn’t seen any new election polls in 12 days, but when the polling blackout began, one thing seemed certain — former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi had cobbled together a strong centrodestra (center-right) coalition that had narrowed the once insurmountable lead of the centrosinistra (center-left) to within single digits. It [...]

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History shows Italy’s likely center-left coalition will likely be short-lived and tenuous

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Kevin Lees

In the last days of Italy’s election campaign, it’s become somewhat conventional wisdom that although the broad centrosinistra (center-left) coalition headed by prime ministerial candidate Pier Luigi Bersani is still on target to win control of Italy’s lower house of parliament, the Camera dei Deputati (House of Deputies), it’s now a toss-up as to whether Bersani’s coalition will win [...]

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First Past the Post: February 20

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Kevin Lees

East and South Asia India’s trade unions are calling a two-day strike. Japan hits a record $17.4 billion trade deficit for January 2013. An interview with Democratic Party of Japan leader Banri Kaieda. James Fallows on the Chinese hacking affair. North America Anti-corruption units swoop in on Québec politics. On the U.S. prison epidemic. On the [...]

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