Beelzebub Spoils Prodi's Day
Start of the article -
Efforts to elect a Speaker descended into farce as the Right used every trick to achieve a stalemate
THREE weeks after Romani Prodi won a razor-edge election majority, he yesterday appeared narrowly to win a crucial vote in the Senate, putting him on course to form the next Italian Government.
But amid scenes of confusion the Centre Right immediately contested the result because of errors in ballot papers, and the vote was declared null and void and retaken.
The chaos underlined the narrowness of Signor Prodi's majority and reinforced fears of instability in Italy at a time when measures to revive the economy are vital.
The turmoil followed an eleventh-hour attempt by Silvio Berlusconi, the outgoing Prime Minister, to prevent the Centre Left from taking power. Signor Berlusconi put up Giulio Andreotti, 87, the veteran former Prime Minister, to run against Signor Prodi's candidate, Franco Marini, a former union leader.
end quote
Andreotti!!! Good Grief!!!