Part of Olivetti's plan for Telecom Italia would be to drop minority holdings, including those in Bolivia and Serbia, the article says. The Treasury Ministry has been eager to stabilize Telecom Italia since it was privatized in 1997. The states have been competing for influence in the selection process of a new president by moving up their primary dates compacting the primary season. Though the nominating conventions will still be in August, the nominations now are likely to be settled by the middle of next March. The effect of the compression may be to make the process less competitive not more.
Money is the reason.
To support themselves while doing that, they often use devices to raise other funds that aren't counted as contributions to their campaigns. Options include raising the federal match, using tax credits, easing the limits on private contributions, perhaps even dealing with soft money. They've got the time right now, most likely several months before many other bills of consequence get to the floor. They ought to try. Antitrust Government attorney David Boies Monday argued that Microsoft Corp. executive Daniel Rosen's contention that Netscape did not at the time pose a competitive threat to Microsoft contradicted the sworn testimony of other Microsoft employees.