WORLD AFFAIRS

Miracle In 100 Days

How Berlusconi brought order to chaotic Italy, and what comes next.

By Jacopo Barigazzi | NEWSWEEK
Published Aug 9, 2008
Aug. 18-25, 2008 issue

« Return to Article

Discuss

Member Comments

  • Posted By: papamauri @ 10/11/2008 10:23:07 PM

    I'm italian,living in Florida since 1999,and for the first time in my life,i'm not proud at all to be italian.Why? because Berlusconi is back to run my country,and if he's there is because the stupid majority of my people voted him.I'm so happy to live in Florisa even if I'm struggling right now because the job,crisis,and stuff,but at list in this country if you are a criminal,and especially when everyone knows that,you don work in parlament,and worse you cab be prime minister.
    Maurizio Giordanengo

    • Posted By: antodaz @ 10/20/2008 3:35:47 PM

      Maurizio, please read my comment in these blog. Thanks.
      Antodaz

    • Posted By: antodaz @ 10/20/2008 3:28:53 PM

      Please Maurizio read what I said in this blog. Tanks.

      Antodaz

  • Posted By: papamauri @ 10/11/2008 10:22:47 PM

    I'm italian,living in Florida since 1999,and for the first time in my life,i'm not proud at all to be italian.Why? because Berlusconi is back to run my country,and if he's there is because the stupid majority of my people voted him.I'm so happy to live in Florisa even if I'm struggling right now because the job,crisis,and stuff,but at list in this country if you are a criminal,and especially when everyone knows that,you don work in parlament,and worse you cab be prime minister.
    Maurizio Giordanengo

    • Posted By: antodaz @ 10/20/2008 3:26:45 PM

      Don't worry please, someone appreciate your pains and links your hopes with owns.

      Antodaz

  • Posted By: neupaul @ 08/26/2008 11:20:05 AM

    We are two italian artists using Second Life for their creation. This article was used with only its headlines by italian television for saying that U.S.A:. press love Berlusconi and all he's doing in Italy...
    We have created this movie about this event:

    Virtual Information versus Real Information: speciale di TELE :-(

    <a href="http://susyspecchi.splinder.com/post/18169741/Virtual+Information+versus+Rea">"Virtual Information versus Real Information: speciale di TELE :-(" Il video è disponibile qui</a>

    http://www.susyspecchi.splinder.com/post/18169741/Virtual+Information+versus+Rea

    Neupaul Palen
    Papper Papp
    http://www.susyspecchi.splinder.com/

  • Posted By: neupaul @ 08/26/2008 11:17:32 AM

    hello
    We're two italian artist using Second Life and cause this aricle was used (with only its headline) by all Berlusconi's televisions for saying that all U.S:A. press love Berlusconi and all his actions...we have created this video:
    "Virtual Information versus Real Information: speciale di TELE :-("

    http://susyspecchi.splinder.com/post/18169741/Virtual+Information+versus+Rea

    <a href="http://susyspecchi.splinder.com/post/18169741/Virtual+Information+versus+Rea">"Virtual Information versus Real Information: speciale di TELE :-(" Il video è disponibile qui</a>

    Neupaul Palen
    Papper Papp

    Specchi e Second Life
    http://www.susyspecchi.splinder.com/

  • Posted By: neupaul @ 08/26/2008 11:13:35 AM

    We are two italian artists using Second Life for their creation. This article was used with only its headlines by italian television for saying that U.S.A:. press love Berlusconi and all he's doing in Italy...
    We have created this movie about this event:

    Virtual Information versus Real Information: speciale di TELE :-(

    <a href="http://susyspecchi.splinder.com/post/18169741/Virtual+Information+versus+Rea">"Virtual Information versus Real Information: speciale di TELE :-(" Il video è disponibile qui</a>

    http://www.susyspecchi.splinder.com/post/18169741/Virtual+Information+versus+Rea

    Neupaul Palen
    Papper Papp
    http://www.susyspecchi.splinder.com/

  • Posted By: maur111 @ 08/26/2008 5:43:00 AM


    To anyone of Newsweek's readers and everyone else on U.S.:
    Please, I'd want you to consider that NOT all of italian people are Berlusconi's voters, NOT all of italians are trash-TV hypnotized idiot jackasses. A bit less of 50% of italian people (especially those possessing higher level of education) agree on claiming that Mr.Berlusconi is a real liar and opportunist, an amateur - and mainly populist - politician, an awkward joketeller, an enriched briber, a mass-media bucaneer who controls 95% of italian TVs, 95% of advertising market, and something like 550 (of 950) italian parlament members (mostly his own actual lawyers/managers staff, asslicking yesmen, hired journalists, his former TV stars and - unbelievable but TRUE - his former lovers!). Good luck Italy.

  • Posted By: Rino @ 08/25/2008 6:27:15 PM


    Ah-ah-ah-ah, beautiful! St'ho dying, ah-ah-ah too good, that it is satire! Eh-eh-eh-mmmm, not to do more, I evil at jaws, ih-ih-ih, really beautiful BELLA compliments .. Uh-uh-uh-ah-ah-aaaaaaaaaaaa

  • Posted By: Rino @ 08/25/2008 6:27:05 PM


    Ah-ah-ah-ah, beautiful! St'ho dying, ah-ah-ah too good, that it is satire! Eh-eh-eh-mmmm, not to do more, I evil at jaws, ih-ih-ih, really beautiful BELLA compliments .. Uh-uh-uh-ah-ah-aaaaaaaaaaaa

  • Posted By: Rino @ 08/25/2008 6:26:53 PM


    Ah-ah-ah-ah, beautiful! St'ho dying, ah-ah-ah too good, that it is satire! Eh-eh-eh-mmmm, not to do more, I evil at jaws, ih-ih-ih, really beautiful BELLA compliments .. Uh-uh-uh-ah-ah-aaaaaaaaaaaa

  • Posted By: Rino @ 08/25/2008 6:26:04 PM


    Ah-ah-ah-ah, beautiful! St'ho dying, ah-ah-ah too good, that it is satire! Eh-eh-eh-mmmm, not to do more, I evil at jaws, ih-ih-ih, really beautiful BELLA compliments .. Uh-uh-uh-ah-ah-aaaaaaaaaaaa

  • Posted By: Rino @ 08/25/2008 6:23:43 PM

    Ah-ah-ah-ah, bellissima!! St???ho morendo, ah-ah-ah troppo bella, questa si che è satira!! Eh-eh-eh-mmmm, non ce la faccio più, ho male alle mascelle, ih-ih-ih, bella davvero BELLA complimenti..Uh-uh-uh-ah-ah-aaaaaaaaaaaa

  • Posted By: francobello @ 08/17/2008 12:17:54 PM

    Dear Barigazzi,
    I am in Italy and can actually hear first hand what my paisans are saying about Signor Berlusconi. I am amazed, as always, with how personally political everything is. Those on the Right generally praise the Premier, while those on the Left condemn him as a new Mussolini. The majority have no choice but to admit that strong leadership is necessary in light of the anemic performance of the Prodi government. Your artcile was good except for the strong taint of sacrasm at the end. The great failing of the Left has always been they can never appreciate how the people need order and freedom from fear. I don't care what you call Mr. Berlusconi - thanks Silvio!
    Frank Fato, Professor of Political Science, State University of New York.

    • Posted By: Franky Laine @ 08/20/2008 4:13:01 AM

      Dear Mr. Fato, just to clarify your crystal clear description of the Italian polical environment...Italian left does not condemn Berlusconi as a new Mussolini, the left makes three kinds of remarks: his announced policies are in favour of his friends; he has an unfair advantage by controlling and owning the majoirty of press and the all televsions; he is unfit to govern since his criminal record is tainted with allegedly corruption and other white collar crimes. Moreover, the Right does not praise the Premier, the right supports hime for two reasons: his policies favor a powerful and influential minority; it replicates and repeats what press and television say over and over again ad nauseam, that is, Berlusconi has a strong leadership and knows what to do. Mr Barigazzi should switch off the TV set for a while and travel across Italy

      • Posted By: paolone @ 08/25/2008 8:20:00 AM

        Silvio Belusconi has never been condamned. All trials finished with a "not guilty" sentence. And, if you may belive to a 40-years-old graduated living in Italy, the most part of charges alleged to Berlusconi seems deeply biased. You have to remember that there is only one istitution that in Italy gained more distrust than the politician corporation: it's the judiciary corporation.

      • Posted By: paolone @ 08/25/2008 8:17:51 AM

        Silvio Belusconi has never been condamned. All trials finished with a "not guilty" sentence. And, if you may belive to a 40 graduated person living in Italy, the most part of charges alleged to Berlusconi seems deeply biased. Remember that there is only one istitution that in Italy has gained most distrust than the politician corporation: it's the judiciary corporation.

  • Posted By: nahummer @ 08/23/2008 2:50:54 PM

    We are witnessing the rise of fascism again in Italy, even the pop agrees,
    http://theendisalwaysnear.blogspot.com/2008/08/what-did-he-say.html

  • Posted By: ebianchi50 @ 08/23/2008 2:24:25 PM

    This is the comment that I have sent to the redaction of Newsweek:

    Dear Newsweek,

    I am an Italian reader, that lives half time abroad.
    I have been extremely disappointed by the article you published on August
    9 "Miracle In 100 Days", signed by a Mr. Barigazzi.

    So as not to rewrite what has already been written already, I'd just protest
    to the redaction of Newsweek how you could publish such a poor article. Most
    comments written by Italian readers about the subjectivity of this article,
    the lack of connexion with the very situation here in Italy, are true. This
    article could be just a propaganda opinion for the party of Mr. Berlusconi,
    and for sure not an information for Newsweek readers.

    I hope that the redaction of Newsweek will react and explain the reasons that
    were behind the publication of such an article.

    Edoardo Bianchi

  • Posted By: Marco28 @ 08/23/2008 2:23:43 PM

    The liberal right disappeared in Italy. Italy has only the extreme, neo-fascist, populist droit.

  • Posted By: emypunto @ 08/22/2008 9:32:51 PM

    Mister Barigazzi, did berlusconi paid you to write those things??!! Come and live in Italy with 900-1000euros a months with your family, bring some kids.... i wonder if you'll be still able to write such unthrutfull things about Italy as you did. Berlusconi has interest conflict, owns the press..he owns everything, he has friends in all the mafia... so make a favor to all the italian people that had their life RUINED by him and his mafias friends: for god sake, stop paiting him as a saver... thank you, have a nice day
    Emypunto
    http://emypunto.spaces.live.com

  • Posted By: emypunto @ 08/22/2008 9:32:24 PM

    Mister Barigazzi, did berlusconi paid you to write those things??!! Come and live in Italy with 900-1000euros a months with your family, bring some kids.... i wonder if you'll be still able to write such unthrutfull things about Italy as you did. Berlusconi has interest conflict, owns the press..he owns everything, he has friends in all the mafia... so make a favor to all the italian people that had their life RUINED by him and his mafias friends: for god sake, stop paiting him as a saver... thank you, have a nice day
    Emypunto

  • Posted By: critinuccia @ 08/22/2008 4:16:41 AM

    Ma quale miracolo?Siamo tornati ai tempi di Mussolini!A Napoli hanno aperte le discariche con la forza!L'immondizia no è sparita è stata solo spostata dai cassonetti alle strade secondarie!Andate a fare un giro sull'Asse-Mediano ci sono chilometri di immondizia !Bel miracolo tagliare i fondi alla scuola pubblica1A settembre miglia di insegnanti a tempo determinato,dopo anni di sfruttamento dallo stato Italiano ,rimarranno senza lavoro.Docenti laureati,abilitati,con anni di esperienza si troveranno disoccupati!Bel miracolo!Ma perchè non raccontate la verità?La scuola italiana è stata distrutta dal governo Berlusconi a dai suoi ministri_sudditi!E'una vergogna che si decantano miracoli.Qui in italia non possiamo neanche più comprarci un pezzo di pane perchè i prezzi dei generi alimentari sono arrivati alle stelle!Dov'è il miracolo?dov'è la crescita economica?Ne abbiaamo già abbastanza di giornali del premier che raccontano falsità,ci manca solo che all'estero facciano la stessa cosa!Almeno voi(che non siete costretti)dite la verità.Il signor Berlusconi è proprietario di giornali,riviste,banche,case di produzioni,televisioni,di interi quartieri(vedi Milano 2)Tutto è nelle sue mani!Questa è dittatura........Cristina una docente che grazie al premier sarà disoccupata

  • Posted By: Kurtz @ 08/22/2008 2:33:14 AM

    Dear all,
    It hurts when the foreign press does not copy/paste articles from "La Repubblica", doesn't it?
    Dear Mr. Barigazzi, someone down in Italy denies your very existence!
    Wake up boys, the times of the "Pravda" are gone for good, get accustomed to it for good, that's my advice.
    Regards.

  • Posted By: Kurtz @ 08/22/2008 2:32:49 AM

    Dear all,
    It hurts when the foreign press does not copy/paste articles from "La Repubblica", doesn't it?
    Dear Mr. Barigazzi, someone down in Italy denies your very existence!
    Wake up boys, the times of the "Pravda" are gone for good, get accustomed to it for good, that's my advice.
    Regards.

Reply

Report Abuse

Enter comments if any for reporting abuse