How well did Italy do under Berlusconi?

[forgotten username]

Originally Posted by improb

That's an apt comparison but i swear that Prodi and Renzi were the only half decent presidents we had since Moro's assassination. That's true that voices of the young people are hardly ever heard, this is why antiestablishment parties such as M5S and Lega Nord (when it first was a catch all secessionist party) were born

Yeah, Prodi seemed tight. Actually I see him every now and then in the streets because he lives here !

I don't know, Renzi is something different for sure. I guess I have gotten used to being skeptical about any political leader. Just seeing what's happening in France these days (Hollande and Valls ending up being more on the right than Sarkozy was on some fields) does not make want to have any more trust.

[improb]

Originally Posted by forgotten username

Yeah, Prodi seemed tight. Actually I see him every now and then in the streets because he lives here !

I don't know, Renzi is something different for sure. I guess I have gotten used to being skeptical about any political leader. Just seeing what's happening in France these days (Hollande and Valls ending up being more on the right than Sarkozy was on some fields) does not make want to have any more trust.

Prodi even taught Economy at Bologna's university. He's actually also been the only centerleft candidate to both win the elections and be elected as PM (Bersani did win the elections but he wasn't sworn in as he didn't have the majority)

Anyway, Hollande and Valls are influenced (in the same way as most if not all Prime Ministers) by how public opinion on any matter changes. If a majority of the people is favourable on immigration then chances are Merkel, Hollande, Valls, Renzi, ecc. also will be. Holland and Valls views have shifted to the right because the French took a turn on the right with Front Nationale polling as the largest political party.