I am speechless and ashamed.
What are people thinking?
Italy's ruin is ahead of us. I
n five years time we will become a third world country.
I beg European journalists to keep an eye on us, to talk about Italy, to control our new government. Now we need Europe more than ever. Please help us not to fall down.

maria veneri, mantova, italy

I think that if Berlusconi has had the time to read all the articles written on him , or rather against him, by The Times in these last weeks he would laugh to tears. You kept talking about his hair, his heels, his make up, his jokes and whateveer hs no attinence with the capacity to rule a country in these difficult timees. For good luck the Italians have paid more attention to facts and realized he his the man that can bring Italy back to prosperity so that we can now look with optimism to our future.

Roberto Castellano, Salsomaggiore, Italy

I wouldn't waste my time criticizing the author of the article or why he did not talk about possible faults of the Left parties...he did sum up TRUE things on our dear Silvio that should be enough for us to consider how it is possible for him to be leading our country, or any country for that matter. Irrespective of which party he represents, he is simply unfit as a person to have a prominent political role, and his involvements and legal matters - and attitude- clearly speak for that. I would be more than happy to forgive this if he had proved to actually make the difference, but hey...we all know he didn't and thought mainly about saving his ****. Numbers during his government picture that. And as regards something on Napoli I've just read...we all know where the problem lies there, no need to try and blame a political party when a force above all political parties rules them all.

Daniela, Milan,

I'm italian, and i blame for that... But i'm still convicted that there is a lot of honest and good people in my country, so i feel hopefule. I hope in changes. I think it's time to change, and if someone has the power of change something, well, it is berlusconi and his new government...i don't think we are as television shows us! Come on, italy, show who you are!

Giovanni, turin, italy

We should all give a proof of democracy and good sence to Europe and the rest of the world.
The results are the choice of the great majority of Italians. It must be respected.
We all want safe life, job and possibilities for our future.
Let's us give a chance to Berlusconi and if the promises won't be kept then we can cancel the "contract". "Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicum" as old latins said.
But who could solve all our troubles in case Berlusconi will fail? This scares me most.
The saddest thing.... to see so many young Italians who are not proud of their country....

Grace, Florence,

dear leftist and "intellectuals": envy makes dumb. Italians had the right choice! Let´s kick the entrepreneurial spirit that boosts growth. Berlusconi ist not a saint but he accomplished something in his life everyone would be proud of even if you probably would never admit it. As an entrepreuner I am happy of the clear victory of Berlusconi. Italy has a chance (not a guarantee) for future. Kick it!

nick carbonari, munich, germany

John should try to live for longterm in Italy,and after make some judges...are those critics just in our head?
I'm ashamed of my country..
by
a forced-exiled Italian in Czech
(when in your country u've got no future,you have just to leave it..)

Sima, Praha, Czech

Dear Stefano,
Italian peaple has clearly chosen with is vote. Leftists always claim for People's right to expression... unless its expression is against them.
The will of italian people always erased comunists from the parlament: go in china or in nepal if you want to feel at home.

Davide, Ancona, Italy

It's all gone....hopes, future, legality, freedom. We can only hope that Europe will rescue us....or at least forgive us. Italians have what they deserve, after all. But it is very sad to be "another kind of Italian", always the minority. It is very difficult to live in a Country with no moral, no rules, no respect for the others, no respect from the other Countries. A Country I don't feel I belong to. Shame on us. I would move away, but I can't, unfortunately. My only force is that I know I'm not alone. Italy is still full of "good people", "normal people", and we will not give up. Let's hope at least the Democratic Party will win in my beloved U.S.

Manu, Bra CN, Italy

Mr. Owen, with this story has shown to be biased in favour of the Left. First, the victory of the center-right coalition has not been by a narrow margin, since we are talking of approx. 9pt.s difference (circa 47% vs 38%).
Secondly, to parallel B. Obama to W. Veltroni is simply ridicolus: Mr. Veltroni has spent all his own life, since high school, as an apparitik of the PCI, PDS, SD, and now PD (by the way, these just mentioned are all the different masks worn by the (ex-)communists); i.e., Mr. Veltroni is not a new man, and people got tired of being fooled around by him.
Thirdly, to define Alleanza Nazionale is the result of total lack of analysis capacity, - which, by the way, makes me think about this newspapers altogether - since, unlike Mr. Veltroni with Communism, Mr. Fini has rejected in public the Fascism.
And a lot more, but since I have just few characters left, I'd better stop!
Have a nice day, y'all!!!

Guido Gonni, Forlì, Italy

The first step in achieving the stability Italy needs in order to get real chances of improvement is a government able to endure 5 years. Prodi failed, Berlusconi has better chances to succeed.

In chess playing with a bad plan is better than playing with no plan at all, and it's the same in politics; let's hope this plan will not prove too bad.

Mauro, Milan, Italy

How can People be so blind? AGAIN? I can't believe it...
It seems that people can't see what's around us: precarious jobs, low salaries, corruption, no expression freedom (he controls many tv channels, prints...)... And who voted him thinks it will be sanated by reducing laws (as he does...)? I can't believe it

Alice, Modena, Italy,

I am an italian girl, and I am embarassed to be represented
by such a man like Silvio Berlusconi.
He is a poor figure in Europe.
I'm 17 so I can't cast a ballot but I'm really sad and angry for the results of the elections.
Please Europe, help the poor Italy!!

Sarah, Mn,

bad times bring bad men, and this is the case of Italy, feared by economic crisis and stateless feeling..all ingredients that work for Belusconi's sake.
Good luck Italy!!
best
Bledar, Trento

bledar, Trento, Italy

Here's another time "Italian Comedy". Mr Berlusconi & Co. trying to entertain us for 5 years forgetting all his personal problems with law... Left parties out of the stage and most of Italian People as Director of this Grotesque comedy...

Andrea, Ferrara, Italy

I agree with Stefano. Please, allied, come back again!!!!

Donato, Napoli/Praga,

What a shame!It seems to mee that most italians have a too short memory! He invented also that the boss Provenzano was captured under his government...nothing but false! He was yet out of power..and however...he should rememer that that justice power is not dependent on the executive one!

Serena, Palermo,

italy needs another allied invasion to erase berlusconi and his mafia from the country life. we needs help, italy is near to a cultural and political death. there is no hope now.

stefano perconti, rome, italy

I'm an Italian Citizen, I hope on you, and on Europe. Fabio Casoli Italy. We are falling again and again.

Fabio Casoli, pesaro, Italy

So the northern league are dubious but the extreme communists that ally with Prodi and Veltroni are perfectly acceptable?
Why doeswnt you newspaper discuss what the PD has done to the people of Campania and their local environment? Shame on the Times!

Matt, Napoli, Italy

Mr. Owen, I think that you live in Rome. Fantastic, is'nt it? But reading your articles one gets the impression the you spend much of your time at the bar in the basement of La Repubblica's building.
Please, consider the opportunity, just with the aim to better your knowledge of Italy, its social life and the political bias toward Berlusconi, (it is important for the correspondent of an opinion leading newspaper) to take residence in the northern part of this beatiful country. I can assure you that you will find here all the life's sweetnesses you are looking for along with a clearer opinion of Italy.
Please, contact me if you come to idea: may be that I can give you some useful tips.
Regards

Vico, Negrar - Verona, Italy

Berlusconi promised to gather a consortium to buy Alitalia, but that cannot happen overnight. The left have prevented anybody from seeing the accounts, including AirOne. Therefore, if anybody is to blame for messing up the ALitalia affair it is Prodi! Unlike the UK that would sell its own mother, Italy wants to keep its national flag carrying airline in Italian hands! I commend Berlusconi for that!

Harry, Oxford, England

Berlusconi is something that professional politicians are not, and that is honest! Newspapers like this one try to belittle him simply because he does not fit into the European socialist mould that has in the last decade contributed to the future downfall of the old continent.
Berlusconi is a man who invests his money in his own country, and at the same time creates thousands of jobs. Everybody who knows him, holds him in high esteem. HE is no fool, and all this negative journalism will do nothing to detract from the great individual that he is.

John, Norfolk, England

I can't understand why people in Italy easily forget their past and the mess that a person can make..

giulia, vicenza, italy

Keep on shutting your eyes Giacomo... it's all true.

Sara, Porto Sant'Elpidio, Italy

I see very difficult times coming, I can't stand Berlusconi, his fake smile, his fake height, his fake hair and above all his fake honesty and concern for our poor country. I really can't understand how he could be elected again and I believe we deserve something better then this. Wish us luck.

Rosangela, Sardinia, Italy

you forgot to say that he's to blame for the protests in Tibet, for the deforestation of Brasil, for the tornado in New Orleans... then your description would have been perfect.... or would it not?

giacomo, Turin, Italy

google: define: irrepressible

Definitions of irrepressible on the Web:

* impossible to repress or control;
"an irrepressible chatterbox"; "uncontrollable laughter"

That's Berlusconi!

Fab, Paris, France