Bad for business

5 February 2008 By William Echikson

Silvio Berlusconi is favoured to regain his old job as Prime Minister. His record last time was mixed some reforms, too little budgetary restraint and not much for struggling industry. More action is needed now. Unfortunately, his campaign promises point in the wrong direction.

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Italian opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi holds a large lead in polls as the country moves towards an election by midApril.

Senate speaker Franco Marini this week gave up trying to form an interim government, saying he has been unable to find enough crossparty support for efforts to change voting rules, which has allowed 39 parties to gain parliamentary representation.

The head of Italy's employers' federation Confindustria, Luca Cordero Di Montezemolo, supports a reform of the electoral law before any election, saying it is necessary to limit "the veto of tiny parties" that now dominate Italian politics.

But Berlusconi said there is no room for talks" on electoral reform following the collapse of the country's centreleft government. "If the prime minister is the victim of a no confidence vote, there is no alternative but to return to the ballot box, he said.

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