Berlusconi vs Prodi

As I type, the Italian election is well and truly underway. Voting began Sunday morning in Italy, and will close on Monday evening. It is a particularly significant election. Italians have a choice between two very different men. Well, different insofar as Right vs Left. Silvio Berlusconi has governed Italy for five years (a long time in Italian politics). He is of the Centre-Right. He is known internationally for his support of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. That stance not only distanced him from French President Chirac and former German Chancellor Schroeder, but angered the European Union, which opposed the idea of war in Iraq from the very beginning.

Berlusconi has promised the complete withdrawal of Italian troops in Iraq by the year's end. As a result, Iraq did not stand as a major election issue.

I've read that Berlusconi is under pressure. Surveys indicated a steady lead by Romano Prodi going into the crucial final days before the vote. Prodi is of the Centre-Left.

I don't know enough specifics about the thoughts and policies of these two to actually argue why one is better for Italy than the other. I am aware that Berlusconi, whilst providing political stability, has brought about a stagnant Italian economy and been accused of lowering living standards but himself becoming richer. On the other hand, some say a Prodi victory would bring political instability from a "mish-mash of leftists" who would eventually self-destroy via infighting in the coalition.

My actual point is this: Wouldn't it be nice to see a pro-Iraq war leader ousted? We were told that we had another one-term Bush on our hands. It got re-elected. We were told Tony was on the nose in Britain. He's still there. John was going to regret being so 'willing'. He's now pretty much omnipotent.

They've all survived through some of the worst decision-making in history. It's been disgusting to witness.

Please, Italy. Show us some sense.