The Center-Left's Poisoned Victory [Paperback]

The year 2006 was by all means an election year: a significant proportion of voters were called to the polls three times. In at least two - the parliamentary elections of 9-10 April and the 25-26 June constitutional referendum - the voters' choices had extraordinary consequences. The parliamentary elections awarded victory to the center-left by the slimmest of margins, yet ushered in a radical change in government, whereas the referendum saw the rejection of the substantial revision of the Constitution that had been promoted by the previous center-right government. This volume deals with these elections and their effects, namely the changes in the government majority and the Presidency of the Republic, as well as the center-right's unsuccessful attempt at revenge in local elections through the constitutional referendum, both resulting in wide-ranging changes introduced by the new majority in foreign policy. Other significant events are also examined, such as the Russian natural gas crisis; the anti-high speed train movement; the capture of mafia don Bernardo Provenzano; the scandals that marred the world soccer in the year the national team won the World Cup; and the suspicious dealings involving telecommunications giant Telecom.

Introduction:The Center-Lefts Poisoned Victory
Jean-Louis Briquet and Alfio Mastropaolo

Chapter 1.The General Election of 910 April: A Country Divided in Half or in Lots of Different Pieces?
Ilvo Diamanti and Salvatore Vassallo

Chapter 2.Eviction Canceled: The 2006 Local Elections
Duncan McDonnell

Chapter 3.The Constitutional Referendum of June 2006: End of the Great Reform but Not of Reform Itself
Martin J. Bull

Chapter 4.From Ciampi to Napolitano
Marie-Claire Ponthoreau and Herv? Rayner

Chapter 5.The New Government and the Spl31