Bush knows that Berlusconi will lose, and is giving him a farewell party. This new legislature may be stillborn, and we may be in for a period of political instability.

This is an important step for Europe. It's a tool that Europe is giving itself that will be independent of the American system, although it will be [technologically] compatible with the American system.

The era of Berlusconi seen as a wizard who would solve the country's problems with a magic wand is over. But Berlusconi as the symbol of a social bloc, of interests and fears of the left that remain strong in this country, is not done.

He still has an admirable ability to interpret the country.

Italian voters are not going to be overly impressed by television footage of Berlusconi with George Bush. The overriding issue in these elections is the economy. In 2001, Italians voted for Berlusconi because he promised they would be better off: actually they feel worse off.

These are the 'who's who,' and they keep giving parties and they go to each and every party and if they're not on a list for some party, they go into a deep depression.