ROME -- Election returns late Monday showed that Italians favored billionaire media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi over rival Walter Veltroni by about 7 percentage points, making it likely that the 71-year-old leader will return to power for the fourth time since he first burst onto the political scene 14 years ago.
With the majority of the votes counted, it appears that Berlusconi would have enough support to pull together a coalition in both houses of parliament, almost assuring he will be able to form a government when asked to do so by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, probably Tuesday.
As recently as the end of last year, the prospect of a return to power seemed extremely remote for Berlusconi, whose media empire includes broadcast giant Mediaset and film producer and distributor Medusa. He was struggling to remain the main leader of the opposition, and political rival Romano Prodi -- then prime minister -- seemed to have a firm grip on power.
With the majority of the votes counted, it appears that Berlusconi would have enough support to pull together a coalition in both houses of parliament, almost assuring he will be able to form a government when asked to do so by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, probably Tuesday.
As recently as the end of last year, the prospect of a return to power seemed extremely remote for Berlusconi, whose media empire includes broadcast giant Mediaset and film producer and distributor Medusa. He was struggling to remain the main leader of the opposition, and political rival Romano Prodi -- then prime minister -- seemed to have a firm grip on power.
- 4/14/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
ROME -- Italy's decree governing the rights of authors was updated for the first time in 66 years Wednesday, creating more transparency in how writers are compensated but allowing for more time before payment for acquiring rights to a work is made.
The old decree dated to 1942 -- so long ago it was called a "Royal Decree" because Italy was still four years away from becoming a republic -- and it lacked many modern conveniences. For example, the new decree from Italian president Giorgio Napolitano allows terms of a writer's contract to be finalized by telephone or online. Previously, it had to be done by post.
The most important changes allow for the Italian Society of Authors and Editors, or SIAE, to circulate a list of written works sold each quarter along with the requirement that royalties be paid within 60 days from when the document is circulated. Previously, there was no deadline for royalty payments and no transparency regarding which rights were sold.
The old decree dated to 1942 -- so long ago it was called a "Royal Decree" because Italy was still four years away from becoming a republic -- and it lacked many modern conveniences. For example, the new decree from Italian president Giorgio Napolitano allows terms of a writer's contract to be finalized by telephone or online. Previously, it had to be done by post.
The most important changes allow for the Italian Society of Authors and Editors, or SIAE, to circulate a list of written works sold each quarter along with the requirement that royalties be paid within 60 days from when the document is circulated. Previously, there was no deadline for royalty payments and no transparency regarding which rights were sold.
ROME -- Media tycoon and three-time prime minister Silvio Berlusconi refused to back a plan for a three-month temporary government Monday, forcing the leader appointed to form that government to quit and making snap elections likely to land Berlusconi back in power all but inevitable.
Berlusconi, the billionaire whose media empire includes broadcast giant Mediaset and film distributor Medusa, was narrowly defeated by former European Commission President Romano Prodi in 2006. Berlusconi was a constant critic of Prodi's government, which collapsed late last month after a tumultuous 20-month stint.
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano tried to appoint a temporary caretaker government to push through a series of electoral reforms to help stabilize a beleaguered Italian political system that produced 61 governments in 62 years. But Berlusconi, riding high in opinion polls, dug his heels in and demanded immediate elections.
Without the support from Berlusconi and his allies, plans for a temporary government never gained traction, making it likely that Napolitano will on Tuesday call for new elections -- a vote pundits say Berlusconi is poised to win.
Berlusconi, the billionaire whose media empire includes broadcast giant Mediaset and film distributor Medusa, was narrowly defeated by former European Commission President Romano Prodi in 2006. Berlusconi was a constant critic of Prodi's government, which collapsed late last month after a tumultuous 20-month stint.
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano tried to appoint a temporary caretaker government to push through a series of electoral reforms to help stabilize a beleaguered Italian political system that produced 61 governments in 62 years. But Berlusconi, riding high in opinion polls, dug his heels in and demanded immediate elections.
Without the support from Berlusconi and his allies, plans for a temporary government never gained traction, making it likely that Napolitano will on Tuesday call for new elections -- a vote pundits say Berlusconi is poised to win.
ROME -- Italian broadcaster Mediaset could begin to come under pressure if Silvio Berlusconi's efforts to earn a fourth stint as Italian prime minister keep him out of the Mediaset board room for an extended period of time, financial analysts said Thursday.
Berlusconi, Mediaset's controlling shareholder, has been trying to position himself to re-take the prime minister post ever since a government crisis resulted in the Jan. 24 resignation of political rival Romano Prodi.
Berlusconi's best chance to return to power took a blow Wednesday, when Italian president Giorgio Napolitano asked the head of the Italian Senate, Franco Marini, to form a temporary caretaker government with a mandate to re-write Italian electoral laws. Such a move would likely hurt Berlusconi's chances to win new elections.
Berlusconi said Thursday that he will refuse to back Marini's government, demanding immediate elections instead.
"The result is likely to be a drawn out fight that could ultimately result in snap elections or re-shape the electoral laws in a way that favors Berlusconi and his allies," said Giacomo Levy, a political scientist with Romanina University in the Italian capital.
Berlusconi, Mediaset's controlling shareholder, has been trying to position himself to re-take the prime minister post ever since a government crisis resulted in the Jan. 24 resignation of political rival Romano Prodi.
Berlusconi's best chance to return to power took a blow Wednesday, when Italian president Giorgio Napolitano asked the head of the Italian Senate, Franco Marini, to form a temporary caretaker government with a mandate to re-write Italian electoral laws. Such a move would likely hurt Berlusconi's chances to win new elections.
Berlusconi said Thursday that he will refuse to back Marini's government, demanding immediate elections instead.
"The result is likely to be a drawn out fight that could ultimately result in snap elections or re-shape the electoral laws in a way that favors Berlusconi and his allies," said Giacomo Levy, a political scientist with Romanina University in the Italian capital.
ROME -- A Milan court on Wednesday cleared media tycoon and three-time prime minister Silvio Berlusconi on 20-year-old charges of false accounting -- a stroke of good news that comes as the billionaire looks to position himself for a return to power with a fourth stint as Italy's head of government.
Italian president Giorgio Napolitano was set to announce later Wednesday or on Thursday that he would call for new elections or set up a caretaker government to push through a series of electoral reforms. Prime Minister Romano Prodi resigned last week, setting up a possibility that Berlusconi could end up back in the political arena.
While waiting on the news from Napolitano, Berlusconi was boosted by news that the charges of false accounting tied to Berlusconi's struggle to take control of state food conglomerate SME in the late 1980s had been dropped. Berlusconi was found innocent of the charges in 2004, but the case was reopened last year because of some irregularities related to the trial.
Italian president Giorgio Napolitano was set to announce later Wednesday or on Thursday that he would call for new elections or set up a caretaker government to push through a series of electoral reforms. Prime Minister Romano Prodi resigned last week, setting up a possibility that Berlusconi could end up back in the political arena.
While waiting on the news from Napolitano, Berlusconi was boosted by news that the charges of false accounting tied to Berlusconi's struggle to take control of state food conglomerate SME in the late 1980s had been dropped. Berlusconi was found innocent of the charges in 2004, but the case was reopened last year because of some irregularities related to the trial.
- 1/31/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
ROME -- Shares in Italian broadcast and cinema giant Mediaset rallied in heavy trading Friday, outpacing a strong day on the Italian Stock Exchange on speculation that the company's leading shareholder Silvio Berlusconi could earn a fourth stint as Italy's prime minister.
The share's closed at 6.08 euros ($8.93), up 3% on a day when the main index on the Milan bourse gained 1.3%. But the shares traded as much as 8.8% higher earlier in the session before retreating late in the day as investors sold shares to lock in profits ahead of the weekend.
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi turned in his resignation late Thursday after narrowly losing a no-confidence vote in the Italian Senate. Giorgio Napolitano, the country's president, will soon decide whether to ask Prodi or another figure to head a caretaker government that will push through an electoral reform to set the stage for new elections, or whether to call snap elections without the reform.
The share's closed at 6.08 euros ($8.93), up 3% on a day when the main index on the Milan bourse gained 1.3%. But the shares traded as much as 8.8% higher earlier in the session before retreating late in the day as investors sold shares to lock in profits ahead of the weekend.
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi turned in his resignation late Thursday after narrowly losing a no-confidence vote in the Italian Senate. Giorgio Napolitano, the country's president, will soon decide whether to ask Prodi or another figure to head a caretaker government that will push through an electoral reform to set the stage for new elections, or whether to call snap elections without the reform.
- 1/26/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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