James Walston - openDemocracy

Berlusconi's endless endgame

Following Berlusconi's recent conviction, the Italian Senate will vote this Wednesday to expel him from its ranks. But with Berlusconi's it's not over before it's over – and the Cavaliere is agitatedly fighting back.

By James Walston

/ 26 Nov 2013

Berlusconi's endless endgame

Following Berlusconi's recent conviction, the Italian Senate will vote this Wednesday to expel him from its ranks. But with Berlusconi's it's not over before it's over – and the Cavaliere is agitatedly fighting back.

By James Walston

/ 26 Nov 2013

Constitutional reform – the creeping transformation of Italy

In the summer lethargy, the Italian government is attempting to pass new constitutional amendments that would take power away from Parliament and concentrate it in the executive branch's hands. Public debate has been avoided, despite potentially dramatic consequences.

By James Walston

/ 12 Aug 2013

Constitutional reform – the creeping transformation of Italy

In the summer lethargy, the Italian government is attempting to pass new constitutional amendments that would take power away from Parliament and concentrate it in the executive branch's hands. Public debate has been avoided, despite potentially dramatic consequences.

By James Walston

/ 12 Aug 2013

Italy: the equivocal calm between storms

After several candidates failed to be elected to the presidency, the Italian parliament gave an unprecedented second mandate to Giorgio Napolitano, the 87-year-old incumbent. Will this be enough to get Italy out of its political jam?

By James Walston

/ 23 Apr 2013

Tactics, polls and alliances in the Italian elections

As the Italian elections draw closer, all contestants have taken their places for the final straight. Yet, the final outcome of the race is as uncertain as ever.

By James Walston

/ 14 Feb 2013

Monti's move and the Italian game of politics

Two big announcements have shaken Italian politics up last week: with Monti's resignation and Berlusconi's comeback, a year of positioning on the Italian chessboard is rapidly moving towards a conclusion.

By James Walston

/ 11 Dec 2012

A spectacle, not an election: how Italians see the race

Italians do follow the presidential election, but they see it more as an entertaining race than as a scrutiny whose outcome might directly affect their daily lives.

By James Walston

/ 29 Oct 2012

All aboard the Monti bandwagon!

The Prime Minister of Italy, Mario Monti, has recently hinted that he might stay for a second term at the head of his mostly technocratic and nonpartisan government, on the condition of not having to face the voters in the upcoming election. But for how long will the consensus behind Monti hold?

By James Walston

/ 1 Oct 2012

Italy's other crisis

Italy's weak economy is visible to all, but there is a parallel crack in the system which is at least as dangerous to the country’s wellbeing and stability, undermining its very structures. It is a clash between the powers of the state; the law on one side and the executive and legislature (usuall

By James Walston

/ 4 Sep 2012

Umberto Bossi resigns

Bossi, his family and close political allies had become more ‘southern’ and more ‘Roman’ than the real Romans and southerners.

By James Walston

/ 10 Apr 2012

Squealing parliamentarians

For years the majority of Italians tolerated the misbehaviour and legalised theft of their parliamentarians because they hoped to benefit from it as well. But no longer.

By James Walston

/ 4 Jan 2012