EU-DIGEST

Italy’s Prodi to resign after losing vote - by Guy Dinmore

Italy’s centre-left government fell on Thursday night after narrowly losing a tumultuous vote of confidence in the senate despite desperate attempts by Romano Prodi, prime minister, to prolong the life of his weakened coalition against the advice of allies. Mr Prodi intended to submit his resignation immediately to President Giorgio Napolitano, a spokesman for the prime minister said. The president may seek the formation of a caretaker government or call early elections.

Labels: EU, Italy, Prodi

Italy in suspense amid signs Prodi may resign before Senate vote

Italy in suspense amid signs Prodi may resign before Senate vote

Italy's Prime Minister Romano Prodi, facing shrinking odds of winning a vote of confidence in the opposition-controlled Senate, is considering resigning instead of facing the test, media reports said Wednesday. Citing government sources, the reports said President Giorgio Napolitano advised Prodi not to submit to the vote set for Thursday in the Senate. The centre-left's slim majority in the upper house evaporated this week with the defection of a small centrist Catholic party.

Labels: EU, Italy, Prodi

Italy's Prodi sees strong euro impact on energy imports curbing trade deficit

Italy's prime minister Romano Prodi sees the strong euro cutting the cost of imported energy fuels, bringing down the country's trade deficit with the rest of the world, said a source close to Prodi. Speaking after yesterday's summit between Prodi and German chancellor Angela Merkel, the source said both countries with their strong industrial sectors are seeing a similar trend in the trade balances with the rest of the world.

Note EU-Digest: It is shameful how some corporations in Europe including petro-chemical corporations are profiting from the strong euro and not passing these benefits on to the consumer. Consumers in the EU are not seeing the price of gasoline (which is tied to the dollar) drop, or for that matter just about any product which is bought outside the EU and quoted in US dollars. For example Nike shoes (made in the Far East) selling in America for around US $ 65.00 (43 euro's) are still being listed in Europe for over 100 euro's. Instead of whining about the strong euro European politicians should go after corporations who are price gouching and getting away with making huge profits.

Labels: EU, European Economy, Germany, Italy, Merkel, Prodi

Italy - Prodi Hopes His Ministers Avoid Anti-Bush Rally in Rome

When U.S. President George W. Bush visits Rome next week he will be met with pomp and ceremony by Italy's leaders, but also by an angry anti-war demonstration which some government ministers have said they might attend. Prime Minister Romano Prodi said on Saturday he hoped none of his ministers -- some of them hard-line communists -- would attend the rally, although he would not ban them from doing so.

Labels: Bush, EU, Italy, Prodi

Berlusconi's party votes against supporting Italian military effort in Afghanistan and splits opposition against Prodi - by Stephen Brown

Italian opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi may have scored an "own goal" by not supporting an Afghan peace mission in a senate vote which, instead of showing how weak the government is, split the centre right in two. Berlusconi's coalition, ousted by Romano Prodi's alliance in 2006, looked closer to what the media dubbed a "divorce" on Wednesday when the Christian Democrats (UDC), who broke ranks in Tuesday's vote, asked to meet the head of state - alone.

UDC leader Pierferdinando Casini, a centrist who has long been a thorn in Berlusconi's side, said he trusted opposition supporters would realise "that in the senate, Berlusconi made a serious mistake - an own goal" over the vote.

Labels: Berlusconi, EU, Italy, Political, Prodi