He still has an admirable ability to interpret the country.

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.

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.

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.

Six years in this country - this is the worst accident I've seen.

Berlusconi is a man fighting against the whole country. I don't know how he can govern Italy in this way, and in fact I think he won't be governing it any more.