Berlusconis exit

The eurozone should thank its stars that these are not classical times. Because what greater misfortune could have befallen Western civilisation than the fall of Athens quickly followed by that of Rome? Yet,former European Commissioner Mario Monti is a much unenvied man. He doesnt have the mandate or stage to begin a new era after the fall of Il Duce. This is Italys worst crisis since Fascism,but rescuing the trouble-stricken,third largest eurozone economy,and thereby staving off a larger financial catastrophe,might just prove to be harder than building a new,detoxified state and society.

For,Silvio Berlusconi has left Italy bereft of a sense of itself,let alone its place. Perhaps we know what prompted an impromptu orchestra to perform the Hallelujah chorus from Handels Messiah when the protesting multitudes in Rome learnt of Berlos resignation. Good riddance,long overdue. But 20 years from now,whether the eurozone is still around or not,how will Italy take cognisance of the Berlusconi era,particularly of his third stint as PM? Its possible to come back in Italian politics because the people and the system are patient. But once they finally make you depart in unambiguous disgrace,you may just have to disappear. Ask Bettino Craxi,the former PM who made Berlusconi,and whose talent for being despised was inherited by Berlo,across the political spectrum. Absolute and all-pervasive corruption a la Craxi lacked a surreal dimension,which Berlos bunga bunga took care of,eclipsing the metaphor midgets and dancers for the court of Craxi.

Often called the clown himself,it was a clown and a jeering crowd that forced Berlo to leave through a side exit of the presidential palace. Italians poured the champagne,preferring perhaps to add up the symbolism later,when counting their hardships. But,at least,Neros fiddle is broken.