Berlusconi sets new record

A picture taken 13 December 2002 shows Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi arriving at the Bella Center in Copenhagen. PHOTO: AFP

He takes home the trophy for heading the longest-serving Italian government since World War II. On the volatile playing field of Italian politics, he has kept the same administration and fractious coalition allies in power for 1060 days. This beats the previous record set 18 years ago by Socialist Bettino Craxi.

Mr Berlusconi's longevity is partly attributed to reform of Italy's electoral system a decade ago. Majority voting finally introduced stability to a constantly shifting political landscape, dominated by fragile patchworks of small party coalitions.

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Since the foundation of the Italian republic after World War II, there have been 59 changes of government, hence the nickname of Italy's "revolving door politics".

It is also a tribute to the drive and charisma of Silvio Berlusconi - the self-made businessman turned politician who created his Forza Italia party from the ruins of Italy's traditional party system, swept away by corruption scandals in the early 1990s.

Since his election in May 2001, he has fought hard to keep on board unruly coalition partners such as the far-right Northern League. The centre-left parties in opposition, meanwhile, have floundered without clear leadership and are still deeply divided on many issues.

So is the Italian government cracking open the Champagne? "No, there won't be a party," one government official said. "It wouldn't seem right at the moment with the Italian hostage crisis in Iraq, and anyway we've already won three elections, so our days in office are just a number."

Whilst Mr Berlusconi's government is long-lived, so is the controversy surrounding his leadership. His penchant for outspoken comments has often provoked fury on the international stage.

The face of Silvio Berlusconi, tanned and wrinkle-free now smiles down from giant billboards across Italian cities. The upcoming local and European elections will be a test of his popularity. Mr Berlusconi recently said he even sees himself being re-elected to the next legislature.