Italian politics in turmoil
The week's news at a glance.
Rome
More than a week after Italy’s elections, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has still refused to concede that his party lost to the center-left party headed by Romano Prodi. Italian commentators said Berlusconi was holding out for an informal pledge that Prodi’s government would not pursue corruption charges pending against Berlusconi in Milan courts. Berlusconi, Italy’s richest man, used his political clout to pass laws protecting himself from prosecution, but many charges remain. The political situation became more complicated this week when Italy’s president, Carlo Ciampi, said he would not seek another term when his seven-year mandate expires in May. That means one of the first acts for the new parliament will be to pick a new president—and that new president will then have to appoint the new prime minister.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
2025 Mother's Day Gift Guide
The Week Recommends Meaningful gifts for your life's monumental women
-
Book reviews: 'Searches: Selfhood in the Digital Age' and 'Crumb: A Cartoonist's Life'
Feature How AI is a parasite of humanity and a biography on the godfather of underground comix
-
Chip wars: Nvidia loses the China market
Feature The Trump administration has blocked Nvidia's chip sales to China, but Huawei is already stepping up with its own AI replacement
-
The JFK files: the truth at last?
In The Spotlight More than 64,000 previously classified documents relating the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy have been released by the Trump administration
-
'Seriously, not literally': how should the world take Donald Trump?
Today's big question White House rhetoric and reality look likely to become increasingly blurred
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?
Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
Democrats vs. Republicans: who are the billionaires backing?
The Explainer Younger tech titans join 'boys' club throwing money and support' behind President Trump, while older plutocrats quietly rebuke new administration
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy