Silvio Berlusconi Caused Italian Government Shutdown? Yet Another Scandal

Silvio Berlusconi apparently caused an Italian government shutdown this morning after he ordered five ministers to quit and called for new elections, in yet another Silvio Berlusconi scandal.

As previously reported by The Inquisitr, Silvio Berlusconi has recently made headlines for his engagement to Francesca Pascale and his continual involvement with prostitutes.

However, today’s news is actually in regards to the Italian government, as the latest Silvio Berlusconi scandal centers around his involvement with Italy’s newly coined Forza Italia party (formerly Freedom People Party). Billionaire Silvio Berlusconi allegedly withdrew all support for party leader Enrico Letta because of an increase in sales tax, in a move essentially calculated to cause a government shutdown in Italy. But conveniently enough, the move comes just days before the government was set to vote on Silvio Berlusconi’s removal from the government because of tax fraud.

Despite the many recent Silvio Berlusconi scandals including this government shutdown, he is convinced he retains popular favor saying he is “ready to fight” and:

The only way is to proceed with conviction to elections as soon as possible. All the opinion polls tell us that we will win.

Former topless model and equal opportunities minister Mara Carfagna, seems to agree with his recent move, quoting Einstein: “Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds”.

Enrico Letta has condemned Silvio Berlusconi’s actions after months of tension, as: “mad and irresponsible” and said it was based on a “blatant lie”.

After being hit hard by recession, Italy can hardly afford a government shutdown and many within Silvio Berlusconi’s own party are unhappy with his move. Freedom People Party member Fabrizio Cicchitto gave restrained voice to the party’s concerns:

I think that a decision of such deep political importance should have required an in-depth discussion

The opposition is, on the other hand, more than willing for re-elections, and Beppe Grillo of Italy’s Five Star Movement blogged his enthusiasm: “We need to go to the polls to win and save Italy. It’s the last train.”

Deputy Economy Minister Stefano Fassina, has pushed a different tactic, seeking a parliamentary majority and reforms instead of new elections: “We won’t go to elections because we will find a solution in parliament. I am sure that in parliament there is a majority that could avoid that”

In all the finger-pointing, it would be expected that Silvio Berlusconi would join the party, and indeed the Berlusconi family newspaper Il Giornale, produced its own headline: “Letta brings down the government”.

A senate committee meets Friday to determine if Silvio Berlusconi will be expelled from his seat in parliament.

What do you think of the latest Silvio Berlusconi scandal, why did he really cause the government shutdown?