Berlusconi launches new political party

Source: Reuters

ROME (Reuters) - Italian centre-right leader Silvio Berlusconi, under attack from his coalition allies, said on Sunday he was launching a new party and would dissolve the Forza Italia (Go Italy!) group he founded in the early 1990s.

Surrounded by supporters in a central Milan square, Berlusconi said he would officially present on Monday The Party of the Italian People of Freedoms.

"Come with us, against the old fogeys of politics to form a great new party of the people," Berlusconi said, adding that his "new creation will be a protagonist of Italian politics for the coming decades."

The surprise move by the former prime minister, who narrowly lost last year's election to Romano Prodi, will be seen as an attempt to regain the political initiative just as his future leadership of the centre right appeared most in doubt.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071118/wl_nm/italy_berlusconi_dc

"old fogeys of politics?" Italy, like the United States and the rest of the world needs new and youthful leadership and inspiration!

For those who don't think massive corruption is corrupt enough.

I would have thought he'd name it "The Corrupt Bastards Party," but "Ultra Corrupt" kind of has that youth sound to it that Berlusconi seems to be going for. Maybe the Extreeeeme Corrupt Party?

Silvio is a Knight of Malta. He has many powerful friends in Italy.

The Untouchables.

Wasn't that why he passed all those laws making the prime minister immune to prosecution while in office?

Many powerful friends indeed.

Go Italy! sounds like a discount charter airline flying ratty, old Boeing 747s, in an all-coach "Kipper Class" seating configuration, from Italy to Wally World or Las Vegas.

unlike many Europaean Conservatives, he's WAY to the right. He's also a right crook.

Calling it a party of the people is the most cynical misnomer I have ever seen.

...he doesn't know academically. he doesn't know for personal culture. he doesn't know out of experience, since he's never been a politician.

the brain behind him is Gianni Letta. he's an aged politician and one who reads and learns...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gianni_Letta

ciao :)

Berlusconi Ally Won't Join New Party
By ALESSANDRA RIZZO | Associated Press Writer
11:15 PM EST, November 19, 2007

ROME - Silvio Berlusconi's surprise announcement that he will launch a new party has angered some of his coalition partners. But the former Italian premier insists the new party will dominate the country's political scene with or without allies.

The move was seen as an attempt by the 71-year-old billionaire to reassert his leadership in the conservative camp when he has come under fierce attack by his own allies.

"The novelty is that the new party will be at the center of the political scene," Berlusconi said, according to an interview published Monday in the La Stampa newspaper. "We have always dreamt about this but were stopped by other parties. Now we have pushed ahead and there's no going back."

Berlusconi fired back at his current allies for what he said was their desire to divide the coalition and take aim at his leadership. He left the door open to forming new alliances -- a move some said was tantamount to dissolving the current center-right coalition.

More:
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-italy-politics,0,2803680.story

...it's just a change of name, from "Forza Italia" to this one (party of the people of the freedom...:) )

since no one among his coalition parties has been attracted yet (AN said no, CDU said no, Lega said No) i think this is an operation of facade to counterbalance the "democratic party" that was born in october.

"spot!", as his TVs anchor men would say now. "stay with us!" :)

The one of Berlusconi humping that old lady ...

:rofl:

Bake

has a nice ring to it, right guys?

Guys? crickets....

:P