New York Times: Silvio Berlusconi
Updated: Nov. 7, 2011
Silvio Berlusconi has dominated Italian political life since he was first elected prime minister in 1994, just as his television empire Mediaset has helped shape the country’s imagination over a generation. He is now in his third term, although the terms were not consecutive.
In the fall of 2011, there was a widespread belief in Italy that the Berlusconi era was coming to an end. Markets sent the cost of the government’s bonds to their highest level since the introduction of the euro, as fears rose that Italy would become the next — and by far the biggest — casualty of theEuropean sovereign debt crisis.
Mr. Berlusconi promised deep budget cuts and sweeping reforms. But weakened by a series of legal cases and sex scandals, along with the defections of some key allies, Mr. Berlusconi seemed unable to deliver more than a fraction of this deeply unpopular agenda.
In the eyes of many political observers, Mr. Berlusconi’s government was surviving only because his rivals had not yet concluded that they would be better off with him out of power. He faced a pivotal vote of confidence on Nov. 8.
Background
Highlights From the Archives
By RACHEL DONADIO
The debate over Silvio Berlusconi is not just about sex, but critics say, reflects an inattention to Italy’s deep problems.
May 29, 2009WORLDNEWS
Articles
By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO
On the eve of a critical parliamentary vote, the Italian prime minister called reports of his imminent resignation baseless.
November 7, 2011
By RACHEL DONADIO
The prospect of a new transitional government in Greece and signs that Silvio Berlusconi’s hold on power in Italy was weakening did little to reassure investors.
November 7, 2011
By LIZ ALDERMAN
Acceding to pressure from European leaders, Italy will allow the International Monetary Fund to look over Rome’s shoulder to ensure it is carrying out a $75 billion dollar austerity package.
November 4, 2011
By SIMON JOHNSON
Is this week's summit meeting of leaders of the Group of 20 likely to stabilize the world economy? No, an economist writes.
November 03, 2011
By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO and NICHOLAS KULISH
Italy’s cabinet said it would seek parliamentary approval for “urgent measures” to prevent the country from being dragged deeper into the widening European debt crisis.
November 2, 2011
By JAMES B. STEWART
It is up to Silvio Berlusconi to keep Italy from becoming another Greece and plunging the world into an even more devastating financial crisis.
October 29, 2011
By STEVEN ERLANGER and STEPHEN CASTLE; LIZ ALDERMAN CONTRIBUTED REPORTING FROM PARIS, and ELISABETTA POVOLEDO FROM ROME.
In the end, it was Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France against the European banking establishment — and the bankers blinked.
October 28, 2011
MORE ON SILVIO BERLUSCONI AND: INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND WORLD MARKET, BANKING AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, EUROPEAN SOVEREIGN DEBT CRISIS (2010- ), ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND TRENDS, EUROPE, GREECE, EUROPEAN UNION, EUROPEAN FINANCIAL STABILITY FACILITY, SARKOZY, NICOLAS, VAN ROMPUY, HERMAN, MERKEL, ANGELA
By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO; GAIA PIANIGIANI CONTRIBUTED REPORTING.
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has promised fellow European leaders wide-ranging changes to get Italy’s economy back on track, but it is not clear that he has the political clout to enact them.
October 28, 2011
By JACK EWING
The Bundestag authorized the German chancellor to negotiate measures including an expansion of the powers of the euro area rescue fund and measures designed to reduce bank risk.
October 27, 2011
By STEVEN ERLANGER and STEPHEN CASTLE; JACK EWING CONTRIBUTED REPORTING FROM FRANKFURT, and RACHEL DONADIO and ELISABETTA POVOLEDO FROM ROME.
European leaders made significant progress in resolving the euro zone financial crisis, obtaining an agreement from banks to take a 50 percent loss on the value of their Greek debt.
October 27, 2011
By STEVEN ERLANGER and RACHEL DONADIO; STEVEN ERLANGER REPORTED FROM PARIS, and RACHEL DONADIO FROM ATHENS. STEPHEN CASTLE CONTRIBUTED REPORTING FROM BRUSSELS, and ELISABETTA POVOLEDO FROM ROME.
On the eve of a European Union summit meeting, crucial financial measures were still unresolved.
October 26, 2011
By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO and GAIA PIANIGIANI
Prodded by fellow European leaders for his inaction on Italy’s fiscal problems, the prime minister produced what appeared to be more inaction.
October 25, 2011
By JACK EWING and LIZ ALDERMAN; LIZ ALDERMAN REPORTED FROM PARIS. STEPHEN CASTLE CONTRIBUTED REPORTING FROM BRUSSELS and GAIA PIANIGIANI FROM ROME.
Fears are growing that the latest rescue will be another minimal step that falls short of a solution.
October 25, 2011
By STEVEN ERLANGER and STEPHEN CASTLE; JAMES KANTER CONTRIBUTED REPORTING.
Leaders hope the seriousness of their effort to solve the problems of Greek debt, weak banks and a bailout fund in need of reinforcement will ease the markets on Monday.
October 24, 2011
MORE ON SILVIO BERLUSCONI AND: EURO (CURRENCY), EUROPEAN SOVEREIGN DEBT CRISIS (2010- ),EUROPE, GREECE, GROUP OF TWENTY, EUROPEAN UNION, EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK, SARKOZY, NICOLAS, CAMERON, DAVID, MERKEL, ANGELA
By ELISABETTA POVOLEDO
Ignazio Visco, currently the No. 3 official at the bank, was nominated to replace Mario Draghi as bank governor, just days before Mr. Draghi is to take over as president of the European Central Bank.
October 21, 2011
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