Saturday, April 15, 2006

Who Brought Down Berlusconi?


Canadians.

The votes of 40,000 Canadian citizens who qualify as "Italians abroad," some of whom have never set foot in Italy and many of whom don't speak Italian, played a pivotal role in the defeat of billionaire Silvio Berlusconi in Italy's election yesterday, according to poll results released late last night.

For the first time in history, a country's political fate appears to have been determined by citizens of other countries, after Mr. Berlusconi introduced a scheme in 2002 that defines eligible Italian voters by blood lines rather than residency. (hat tip to Atrios.)

Berlusconi, who is currently having a tantrum and is demanding recounts, was not pleased that Italian-Canadians could have such a huge impact on his fate.

Let me borrow a word from US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in response: Vaffanculo.

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