Democracy at Work

(above: L'Express, 5/17/06, feat. Napolitano. Cover reads: "It is necessary to change the [political] climate in Italy")

Giorgio Napolitano, Presidente della Repubblica Italiana, has chosen to give Prodi another shot -- so postpone the postponement. Prodi will face an official vote of confidence in the Senate and his coalition will be restructured. Was reinstating Prodi as Prime Minister 9 months after his installation Napolitano's idea of "changing the political climate in Italy", as he said in an interview with the French weekly L'Express in May of '06? As he massages Italy back to its feet, Napolitano contends that there was simply no other option, no other concrete alternative than reinstalling Prodi.

Shortly after Napolitano's announcement the Cdl and Berlusconi responded: "Italy is the one country that has the misfortune of having Communist parties part of the government. We were hoping that the Prodi government would implode, but we never spoke of forcing its implosion."

********UPDATE********

This Wednesday, Februrary 28th, Prodi received the Senate's vote of confidence. The new Prodi government is under way and will be reported on as noteworthy details arise.