This is an outrage against democracy of course and is due to the fear of losing an election to SYRIZA,

in italy it's the M5* that has them shaking in their boots, and justly so.

the rightwing maniacs have thrived under mr b, but luckily now have lost their voter-attractive patina, especially since the lega scandal and the fail of the new guard under berlusconi (alfano especially) to really make voters believe... b is a snake-charmer and can still hypnotise idiots, but none of his henchmen/cohorts have that charisma or allure.

plenty of unreconstructed fascistic thought around though, bubbling away, just no demagogues to champion.

this latest government toppling could leave a vacuum but i think beppe has the only real option for those sick of the centre-left-and-right charades but wanting to vote.

reading the comments on beppe's italian website one is struck by how well informed and economics-savvy they are, definitely a whole level above the comments on the PD website.

it would be like seeing water run uphill if beppe's party got elected majority, but the ram pump principle can come into play i guess :)

if the polls show a big, decisive vote ahead for M5* expect all kinds of shenanigans to delegitimise the phenomenon, even false flag 'events'.

there are no frothing GD types left in italy with much real power to do more than act ugly and spew racist rhetoric. calderoli's recent insults towards the coloured minister for integration are shameful, but attitudes like his are increasingly evidence of ignorance and bigotry that craves representation.

without big daddy b hovering over the country's fate these assclowns will have less relevance.

...and it looks like he really is going down this time.

thanks for the great diary, Talos. let's hope syriza can emerge the last men standing. at least they are in position to offer alternatives.

'The history of public debt is full of irony. It rarely follows our ideas of order and justice.' Thomas Piketty