Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ROME624
2004-02-19 16:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

PM BERLUSCONI SAYS HE IS A CANDIDATE FOR THE

Tags:  PINR PREL PGOV IT EUN ITALIAN POLITICS 
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UNCLAS ROME 000624 

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINR PREL PGOV IT EUN ITALIAN POLITICS
SUBJECT: PM BERLUSCONI SAYS HE IS A CANDIDATE FOR THE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT


UNCLAS ROME 000624

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PINR PREL PGOV IT EUN ITALIAN POLITICS
SUBJECT: PM BERLUSCONI SAYS HE IS A CANDIDATE FOR THE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT



1. DURING A PRESS CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 17, ITALIAN PM
BERLUSCONI SAID HE WOULD BE A CANDIDATE IN THE EUROPEAN
PARLIAMENTARY (EP) ELECTIONS IN JUNE, BUT THAT, WIN OR
LOSE, HE WOULD REMAIN IN HIS POSITION AS PRIME MINISTER.
ITALY HAS NO LAW THAT PREVENTS A MEMBER OF GOVERNMENT
FROM RUNNING FOR AN EP SEAT, BUT THE EU COUNCIL'S 1976
ACT ON ELECTIONS TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT (ADOPTED BY
ITALY IN 1977) DECREES THAT THE OFFICE OF MEMBER OF THE
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE OFFICE OF
MEMBER OF A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.


2. IF ELECTED, BERLUSCONI WILL THEREFORE HAVE TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN THE EP AND HIS NATIONAL GOVERNMENT POSITION. IT
COMES AS NO SURPRISE THAT BERLUSCONI SAID HE WILL OPT TO
REMAIN AS ITALY'S PM. BECAUSE ITALY'S EP ELECTORAL LAW
IS BASED ON PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION, HE WOULD THEN BE
REPLACED IN THE EP BY THE PERSON ON HIS PARTY TICKET WHO
RECEIVED THE MOST VOTES AMONG THOSE WHO WERE NOT ELECTED.
BERLUSCONI'S STRATEGY FOR BECOMING A CANDIDATE IS SIMPLE
-- TO WIN MORE VOTES FOR HIS PARTY, FORZA ITALIA (FI).
IN THAT VEIN, IT SHOULD BE VIEWED IN THE CONTEXT OF EU
COMMISSION PRESIDENT PRODI'S MUCH-PUBLICIZED DECISION TO
"LEAD" THE ITALIAN CENTER-LEFT OPPOSITION'S TICKET FOR
THE EP ELECTIONS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVING OUT HIS
TERM ON THE COMMISSION. (COMMENT: BERLUSCONI ISN'T THE
ONLY ITALIAN POLITICIAN WITH A FLEXIBLE INTERPRETATION OF
WHAT CONSTITUTES A 'CONFLICT OF INTEREST.')


3. ITALY'S ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 12-13,
PRIMARILY FOR THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, BUT ALSO FOR
SEVERAL LOCAL ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS. THE GOI IS IN
THE PROCESS OF AMENDING ITS ELECTORAL LEGISLATION TO
CONFORM WITH EU REQUIREMENT AND TO ACCOMMODATE EU
ENLARGEMENT IN MAY, WHEN ITALY'S EP SEATS WILL DROP TO 78
FROM 87. THE CURRENT LAW IS BASED ON PROPORTIONAL
REPRESENTATION, WITH ITALY DIVIDED INTO FIVE
CONSTITUENCIES -- NORTH-WEST (23 SEATS),NORTH-EAST (16
SEATS),CENTER (17 SEATS),SOUTH (21 SEATS),AND THE
ISLANDS (10 SEATS). SEPTEL WILL ANALYZE THE STRATEGY AND
OUTLOOK FOR THE CENTER-RIGHT GOVERNING COALITION AND THE
CENTER-LEFT OPPOSITION IN THE RUN-UP TO THESE ELECTIONS.

SKODON

NNNN
2004ROME00624 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED