Berlusconi weakens himself

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Thursday expelled his alliance partner Gianfranco Fini from the governing party People of Freedom (PdL). While Berlusconi's move put an end for the time being to the long smouldering conflict, it may yet prove to be his undoing, the business newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore believes: "The break between the founders of People of Freedom makes the government weaker, not stronger. ... So what is the point of it? It undoubtedly gives Berlusconi more comprehensive control over the party, but what use is that when he will still have to haggle with the parliament and autonomous groups over every programme point? ... It only makes sense to challenge the internal party minority, ... if the prime minister is using this to prepare the ground for early elections. [The head of the right-wing populist Lega Nord Umberto] Bossi has no desire to engage in electoral adventures, however, but is simply striving for a federal tax regime."

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