Lots more of this:
Tens of thousands of protesters gathered Saturday in Rome to express their exasperation with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who is on trial on corruption charges and who was politically bruised this year by scandals involving younger women.
Many of those who gathered after a call on Facebook to demonstrate expressed indignation about what they perceived as Mr. Berlusconi’s autocratic style in governing Italy. Others complained that after years in power, Mr. Berlusconi had done little to better the country.
“This started with civil society, people who are touched by problems like unemployment and the economy and the environment and want things to change,” said Elisa Tottone, a teacher who lives in Rome. “Berlusconi is not dealing with Italy’s real problems. He only cares about his own.”
But this is also right:
One analyst, Roberto D’Alimonte, a University of Florence political science professor, said he did not believe protests were the way to topple the prime minister. “The way to do it is to create a credible alternative to him,” he said. ”You can’t just oppose, you have to build a coalition.”
That's absolutely essential. The opposition in Italy is fragmented and obsessed with infighting. No one is more happy with this than Silvio Berlusconi. It ensures the status quo.
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