Newsgroup: it.politica
Titolo: Per gli economisti USA berlusconi è un buffone non degno di credibilità

Wall Street Journal
Silvio and Alitalia
New York March 25, 2008
On the economy, Silvio Berlusconi disappointed in his last turn as
Italy's Prime Minister. Judging by his promises ahead of next month's
snap elections, which he's favored to win, a third term in office
won't be a charm.
Mr. Berlusconi last week came out against the proposed sale of
Alitalia. His musings could soon be official policy and sink the one
thing that stands between the Italian flag carrier and bankruptcy.
They are also a signal of his lack of commitment to economic reform.
Alitalia's board earlier this month agreed to sell the airline to Air
France-KLM in a share-swap deal that values the stock of the ailing
airline at just EURO 139 million, or about 10 European cents a share. But
the Franco-Dutch group first wants guarantees that trade unions and
politicians won't block painful restructuring moves, which likely will
include trimming hundreds of employees from Alitalia's bloated work
force. The Italian state owns 49.9% of Alitalia.
Mr. Berlusconi says he'll veto the deal if elected. The media mogul --
who has long favored "an Italian solution" for the ailing airline --
also predicted that local businessmen would rally to launch a
counterbid. On cue, the small Rome-based carrier Air One over the
weekend requested three more weeks to revise its failed bid for
Alitalia.
In his last stint at Chigi Palace in 2001-2006, Mr. Berlusconi didn't
find any saviors for Alitalia. Instead, he dithered as the company's
debt soared, reaching some EURO 1.3 billion this past January. Italian
voters might ask Mr. Berlusconi why he didn't sell their stake in
Alitalia back when it was actually worth something. The company's
share price has fallen about 70% in the past two years.
The center-left's leader, former Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni, charges
that Mr. Berlusconi is engaging in populist grandstanding before the
elections. The other side could hit the former Prime Minister harder
for his failure to set Italy's economy right when he had the chance.
Mr. Berlusconi promised tax cuts, labor-market reforms, and
liberalization and failed to deliver on most counts. GDP grew by a
cumulative 3.6% in his five years -- worse than France's 8.6% or even
Germany's 4.5% during that time period, much less Spain's 17.7% or
Britain's 13.4%.
Trade-union leaders also are threatening to scuttle the Alitalia deal
unless Air France-KLM essentially gives up its right to restructure
the airline back to health. These same unions helped to create
Alitalia's misfortunes with their numerous strikes and repeated
rejection of corporate restructuring. They'd do well to recall the
fate of former Belgian flag carrier Sabena, whose workers refused
concession after concession -- until the company finally went out of
business. The Italian unions would have a much more difficult time
taking a hard line if they weren't getting political cover from Mr.
Berlusconi.
As this episode shows, Mr. Berlusconi has turned out to be more of a
corporatist averse to free-market competition than an economic liberal
willing to do what Italy needs to revive its faltering economy. He's
also a politician willing to do anything to regain power. That's
hardly good news for Alitalia, or for Italy.

 won't be a charm.
bè, non era necessario essere degli economisti.
bastava semplicemente non essere dei deficienti belusconiani
che credono alle coglionerie che dice quel cialtrone.
-- 
rafrasnaffra
nulla si crea e nulla si distrugge: tutto si fakizza

Wall Street Journal
...ma per Bertinotti...
"Berlusconi e' un politico molto capace. Lo stimo anche se ci separano
distanze politiche abissali'' dice il presidente della Camera, Fausto
Bertinotti.

 Bertinotti.
Berlusconi è dunque un politico più adatto all'URSS che agli USA.
Una specie di dinosauro gerontocratico alla Brezniev o alla
Ceaucescu ,