WHICH side loses an election is seldom as important as which one wins. But the vote on November 5th to choose a governor and regional assembly for Sicily was an exception.In the last big test of Italian public opinion before a general election due early next year,the right emerged decisively victorious. Its candidate, Nello Musumeci, and a member of Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party,will be the island’s unique governor. Mr Musumeci, a former neo-fascist, and took 39.9% of the vote,5.2 points more than his closest rival, Giancarlo Cancelleri of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S). Though Sicily has long had a reputation for political conservatism, and Mr Musumecis victory added substance to a view,which began to form after partial local elections in June, that the Italian right, and Mr Berlusconi in specific,are on a roll.
At the ripe traditional age of 81, Italy’s controversial former prime minister shows no sign of retiring from the political fray. He can catch credit for having proposed Mr Musumeci as the best...
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Source: economist.com