This article doesn't mention the fact that Mr. Veltroni created a brand new party, the Democratic Party, and that the main purpose of this new party is to get rid of the alliance wth the far left, including Communists.
Very superficial analysis, I am sorry to say.

Marcello Lamberanzi, Rome, Italy,

The rubbish dacaying on the streets of Naples smells so good if compared to the history of italian politics. Eau de parfum, I would say. Summarizing the last hundred years we have been though fascism, populistic mass parties that - with rare exceptions - have fomented the struggle among citizens, state terror, unsolved massacres, secret illegal organizations parallel to governments, legalized and even accepted endemic corruption, umbelievable amnesia (they're still there), istitutional mafia that kills judges pushing a button, and in an instant a motorway or a parking area is shattered, and then everything goes back to normality as if the weird judge was the problem, shareholders robbed of all their savings, Berlusconi and his quest for total dominance without respecting the rules, rather by making new ones, his apparently accepted contiguity to mafia, his crimes. Here living honestly is hard, start an enterprise almost impossible. Italy carries on thanks to italians, despite politics.

Lorenzo Albanello, Rome, Italy

do you know that the President of the Italian Republic costs the Italian taxpayers 4 times more than what Queen Elizabeth costs to the Uk taxpayers? and do you know that some Italian politicians earn up to 56000€ net per month thanks to their very complicated bonus systems?Berlusconi is a nutter, but Veltroni did everything he could to boycott the north and wants to allow 16 years olds and immigrants to vote. so I'm voting for the independentists this time. I've had enough to maintain them. Besides, I also lived in the UK for 3 years and my boyfriend's English. He would never go back to the Uk ever. I must admit that what Mr Chapman wrote further up is true. I woulnd't swap Berlusconi for Gordon Brown.

Sara Fagnani, Lecco, italy

Before judging their capacities as leaders, I must say, I have observed their way of expressing themselves, of talking.
Berlusconi is so violent and willing to show is strenght more than his ideology that it looks to "dictatorish" to me.
As an Italian living in Belgium, in an international community, I recognise how ridiculus our politicians are and think that, in those harsh conditions we are experiencing, Veltroni seems more decent.
Italian politics condition is so sad it will be heartbreaking for me to talk about it, but this first decency criteria is the one that would leed me primarily toward my deciosion, if only I could vote. (I will turn 18 in a few months).

Laura, Brussels, Belgium

well, now ascertained that the very equable person who revises readers' comments is an Italian, would be nice to know why a comment not offensive, nor angry, nor against the Times, nor against Britain, has been rejected. Does it relate to my criticism towards Italians' bad habit of exchanging vote for employment? Or is it related to my criticism towards the influence of the Catholic Church on politics, here?
Anyway, the nice individual who will read this message has made me smile, really :)

Florenzo Paolo Dimagli, Bari, Italy

Sad to say, it's one of those situations where you don't know what is worse. We have had five years of Berlusconi, which emptied the State coffers, did absolutely nothing to boost privatizations where needed (how can one who has benefited from a double monopoly, RAI plus Mediaset, really believe in free market?), and was only interested in hampering the judicial system and keeping the status quo in matters of television and other media? On the other hand, having lived in Rome since 2003 I have appreciated--let's say--Veltroni's style of media politics: press conferences, opening ceremonies, whatever amounted to advertising for himself. Yet Veltroni might be a better prime minister than Berlusconi; it doesn't take much to be better than Silvio. But probably these elections are no more than a joint move to eliminate most smaller parties and then set up the Italian version of the Grosse Koalition. God help us!

Vittorio Caffe', Rome, Italy

there is no doubt that Italy should avoid another Berlusconi government, 5 more years with him, Bossi & Co would be a real disaster for Italy.
Veltroni has never been prime minister and in my view he is much more credible than Berlusconi, I think he deserves a chance.

Antonio, Luxembourg, Luxembourg

It seems ironic that British commentators are offering advice to italians when Uk is is in such an awful mess. Having kived in both countries I would vote for Italy under any government over Uk under the present administration. here in Italy the health service is efficient, hospitals clean, no CCTV everywhere. You never see drunks on the street or in bars, the cost of living is cheaper council tax (ICI) is tiny compared with UK and possibly because of all this Italians are pleasnt, helpful, friendly and much less stresssed than your average Brit. Physician cure thself before offering advice to Italians.

c chapman, corridonia, italia

Is the guy who revise our comments Italian?
What if the next mail goes to another level?

Florenzo Paolo Dimagli, Bari, Italy

Italians already know Mr. Veltroni because in Italy who gets the power is not the new "Premier" but his party or coalition gets it, and Mr. Veltroni's party is the same party who is still at the government with Prodi. Mr. Berlusconi coalition is the only one in the story of Italy that lasted 5 years and most of the good things thery've done have been erased by the coalition of Veltroni in the last two years. We know both devils....
Sorry for my broken english.

Rocco, Reggio Calabria, Italy

Veltroni--the devil they don't know? Doesn't he have a record as mayor of Rome?

G. Pasley, Bodden Town,

"Italians would surely be wise to choose the devil they don't know, Mr Veltroni, over the devil they do."

Unfortunately, Italians know very well both devils . Furthermore, Veltroni has been Rome Mayor for seven years, therefore it's very easy judging him...

Pietro, Rome, Italy

What is unbeliveable is that this happens only two years ago, and people seems to have forgotten it in a while...

Mauro, Roma, Italy

I hope that win Mr. berlusconi because is more liberal that comunist veltroni. The polls are; berlusconi 44% veltroni 37% at this ime
Mirco ,San Giovanni Valdarno ,arezzo ,italy

mirco, san giovanni v.no, italy

Unfortunately it appears that italians still do not realise what is necessary to get them out of the mess they are in and are still blinded by Mr Belusconi rash promises, he didnt do anything good for italy the last two times and he wont now.

Simon, Arezzo, italy