right

songjiang, chongqing, china

To Noel, NR, Rome: what is wrong in Italy? Italy has not the same tradition of state of France or United Kingdom. No country in Europe has 19 regional and provincial governments like Italy. People are more linked to their city or region that to Ihe idea of Italy. Anyone makes her/his interests and joins to a party because he could gain a work or a career. A job payed by the state is the the great desire of the most Italians. Yes, we a have a lot of Gucci communists or Gucci former communists: it a system of Gucci communists. Also if Berlusconi will have a majority in Senat it will be difficult to change, because the same establishment is linked to the Gucci communists. The same Fiat goes on because statal money. Veltroni is an old communist, who became former communist when Soviet Union ended. The people who don't vote Veltroni - over 50% - are not considered by the Times, because the Italian media establishment is leftist.

antonio, cagliari, italy

In my view, Berlusconi seems disillusioned himself on
changing Italy, now that we're all more conscious about the real economic situation. Without his enthusiasm, on which the center-left has constructed its successes, I think Veltroni will grow popular; in general a more "down to earth" political policy will prevail in the next years. Italy deserves that !

Carlo, Varese, Italy

What is wrong with Italy? Europe has been divied through the cold war and yet the Communist are still trying to survive, or I say "Gucci Communist". Stand up those who would like to live in a real communist society!! Wake up Italy!! Communism is out of fasion.
Or would you rather be walking around in Mao suits? Or maybe Veltroni vestiti? You certainly won't see him dressed like that!
Rumour has it that Prodi was a puppet of Russia. Watch out Italy they might turn off the gas supply if don't knuckle under.
Ciao

Noel, Nr Rome,

Mr Berlusconi is not a political man: he is rather a businessman with some problems with mafia and corruption. What would you do if you were in troubles with justice? You would have two solutions: 1.leave your country and your power. 2.try to change italian laws and stay in your country.....what would you do? What do you think he did? That´s why Italy´s economy has been stopping for 14 years, since Mr Berlusconi´s first government in 1994.
Mr Veltroni doesn´t promise anything particular: just ruling Italy with care and simple ideas, keeping together former communists and catholics. That´s why I voted for him.

Paolo, Verona, Italy

So Omar is blaming the problems of Italy, that stem back decades on 5 years of Berlusconi government? No wonder Italy is such a mess!!!

Hillary, Southampton, UK

Veltroni is simply Prodi 2. THe left has ruled Italy since the end of WWII and has done nothing to modernise and reform the nation. They have just unsuccesfully had 18 months in government where they have managed to send the economy into recession and increase crime by releasing dangerous convicts to commit horrendous crimes! They had time to reform the country, but instead of reforming education, the economy, or law enforcement, they thought that gay marriage was far more important!
The left is a disgrace, and if they return to power then were are in for another 18 months of status quo!

Matt, Naples, Italy

Walter Veltroni says he's the Obama of Italy? That means he has people with ties to terrorism, A closet communist and attends a racist church? Wow fascism is making a come back in Italy than.

Thomas, Palmdale, California

I am very sad that Berlusconi could reppresent Italians again.
A low class clown is not what the counyry needs.
Unfortunatly we have no polititions in Italy and a political electoral that is desatreous, NOT to mention the 150 poilitical parties. Sorry Europe !!

Paolo, Shenzhen, China

berlusconi is a false scoundrel that through the media, under its total control, he has succeeded in turning upside-down the virtues, and today in italia we live in a country in which more it behaves badly , more he is respected. In a country in which, the dignity, the sense of justice, the culture they don't count anything anymore there is not to marvel that a mafioso is always in head in the elections even if everybody knows that is a profiteer disguised by servant of the state. What happens in Italy today can be educational for other countries, and it is the demonstration of that that can happen when the media are in the hands of a scoundrel without scruples.Sorry for my bad english, Omar -Brindisi-Italy

Omar Epifani, brindisi, italy

I dont beleive there will be a deadlock. What sense would it make to put back into power the same Government with the same faces? Surely, not even in Italy that could happen!!!!!

Sara, Napoli, Italy

Veltroni will forget about electoral reform once he gets into power, as he will forget about all the empty promises made in his emphatic speeches across Italy! Do people really believe that he will give the €600 a month to poorer families for example? Didn't Prodi make a similar pledge for new born babies which never materialised? In fact, the left takes away social services, and doesnt give them. For as country that has been under communism for 50 years, it has less support for the poor and needy than any other EU member state!
Berlusconi is right whewn he says that everything the left say, the opposite is always true.

Carmine, Roma, Italy

Quite frankly, I hope the northern independentist party gets a landslide of votes as we cannot carry on like that: we've been squezed like lemons and got only a kick in our back as a thank you. Our money vanishes in that black hole called Rome, where a caste of politicians and mafiosi engulf it all, and we're just left with peanuts... I've had enough of being depicted as an almost 3rd world person, considering Lombardy is among the richest regions inthe world. we've got an excellenst health system, discrete education, investments, civic sense, we've been doing recycling since early 90s (yes!!) and we recycle more than 70% of our rubbish. we're self sufficient even regarding pensions... why would I have to vote for a man, Veltroni, who systematically boycotted the North until the day before he became one of the two main candidates? I voted for Prodi in the past and things got even worse. not anymore.

Sara, Lecco, Italy

The "new" Veltroni ???? It's a joke ???
The first enemy pubblic in italy is the italian's goverment.
I have not gone to vote.
I hope that something state invade Italy,it's the only solution.
England , Germany ....are you ready ?

A.Robertazzo, Milan, Italy

Not that I like Veltroni very much, but yes, as a Prime Minister he's "untried". While we have tried Berlusconi two times in that role and it's not that I look forward to seeing him again in that position. Especially in his 2nd spell as Presidente del consiglio, he's been a disappointment even for his electors. And people tend to forget that the actual reason why we are voting again after only 2 years is the electoral law that Berlusconi has invented just to avoid that the winners of the 2006 election could really rule. That's an insult to the intelligence of Italian people. But Berlusconi might be soon a victim of his creature...

Vittorio Caffe', Rome, Italy

when mayor part of italian citiziens are called to decide a new political asset, we have an usual state of mind ;

first step will be "speakin a lot about personal political vision"
second step " please, i dont' vote for anybody"
third and definitive " best way is don't change anything" .

13-14 april 2008 "the song remain the same"

toni soddu, tuscany, italia

I'm leftist, but i realize that last Prodi government was a disaster.
Now we are voting again.
Will we decide to try the "new" Veltroni, keeping the chance to change some things through non-political associations and people like Beppe Grillo, or are we digging our grave by letting Berlusconi rule again, perfectly aware that he will make laws only for himself, and that he will wipe out definitely our dying press freedom?

Francesco, Roma, Italy

Come on Veltroni.
I voted for him and I hope he wins by a good majority.

Italy needs electroral and economic reform.

Franco P, Melbourne, Australia

Left and right!!!!???
I'd love to talk about left and right, but in Italy there is centre right and centre left both trying to go as centre towards as possible and accomplishing the catholic vote as much as possible.
It is impossible for me to vote. There is no definite and strong idea or ideal behind the two.

margherita a., milano,

Why is Veltroni described as being 'relatively untried'? He receives an exhorbitant pension as an ex-member of parliament and had been mayor of Rome for quite a few years. He became a ticket-carrying member of the Communist party at the age of 15 and has always been recognized as being one of the senior members of the nomenclature of the italian communist party. Maybe, it's time to do some seriously objective journalism on the subject of Italy and stop insulting the intelligence of over 50% of the italian voters who don't vote for people like Veltroni.

elisabeth crilly, Ferrara, italy