(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in Italy think the new government headed by Silvio Berlusconi will perform in a positive manner, according to a poll by Ispo published by Corriere della Sera. 52 per cent of respondents expect the conservative administration to operate well.

Italian voters renewed the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate in April. Final results gave the Berlusconi coalition of right-leaning parties—encompassing the Italian People of Freedom Party (PdL), the Northern League (LN), and the Movement for Autonomy (MPA)—344 seats in the lower house, and 174 seats in the upper house. The victory put an end to the government of the centre-left Union (Unione), headed by Romano Prodi.

Berlusconi—Italy’s richest man—was sworn in as Italy’s new head of government on May 8. He had previously served as prime minister from May 1994 to January 1995, and from June 2001 to May 2006.

On May 16, Italian police arrested close to 400 people, allegedly illegal immigrants, in response to Berlusconi’s initiative to crack down on crime perpetrated by foreigners. Most of the arrested are described as Roma people from Eastern Europe. The prime minister has said he will introduce legislation that would allow authorities to screen immigrants and expel those breaking the law. Interior minister Roberto Maroni—a member of the openly anti-immigrant LN—said that there are no plans for "mass expulsions."

On that same day, Spanish first vice-president María Teresa Fernández de la Vega expressed dismay at the situation, saying, "The (Spanish) government rejects violence, racism and xenophobia. Therefore, it cannot condone what is taking place in Italy."

Polling Data

How do you expect the government headed by Silvio Berlusconi to operate?

Source: Ispo / Corriere della Sera
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 600 Italian adults, conducted on May 6, 2008. Margin of error is 4 per cent.

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