The Berlusconi model
…The impact of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s model for labor and social security reform transcends the borders of the neighboring country. Europe is being swept by a clear center-right shift which may be reinforced further by the results in the coming elections in Germany and France. So far, however, although conservative politicians have hinted at moves toward Berlusconi-type measures, they have yet to put forward any clear proposals. It is worth noting that Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, a conservative politician, seems to be closer to social democratic policies. If Berlusconi sets the pace for Europe’s center-right parties in this crucial sphere, then the damage could be multi-sided. This is because societies may need to be mature to accept an economy along more liberal lines, but should it be handled wrongly the beneficent climate can easily be reversed. Berlusconi himself has already resigned once in the past while attempting a similar approach. These developments are not alien to our domestic affairs as the conservative New Democracy party – which is continuously gaining ground vis-a-vis the worn-out Socialists – has not yet taken a clear position on the issue. In effect, influences and developments in Europe could easily be exploited by those who wish to undercut this trend.
