ROME — The center-left leader who won the biggest share of votes in Italian general elections but failed to secure a parliamentary majority declined to say Tuesday whether he would turn to Silvio Berlusconi or Beppe Grillo to break the stalemate.
That choice will determine the political direction of the eurozone’s third-largest economy amid concern that it might backpedal on recent austerity measures, labor and pension reforms, thus undermining confidence in the entire currency bloc.
Pier Luigi Bersani’s alliance won control of the lower house of Parliament after edging out Berlusconi’s conservatives. In the Senate, where the “majority bonus” is distributed on a regional rather than a national basis, it was 35 seats short of a majority.
Grillo’s protest Five Star Movement could act as kingmaker, after coming from nowhere to score about 25 percent. Its campaign was based on pledges to clean up politics, endorsement of clean energy, and rejections of the euro and high-speed rail projects.
Bersani refused to enter into what he called a “political farce” about possible alliances. What is needed, he said, is for his side to draft a reform agenda and then see which forces are prepared to support it.
Bersani listed “legality” and “morality” as priorities, issues that are more likely to resonate with Grillo’s supporters. But he also railed against “frankly wrong European policies” on austerity, which both Grillo, a comedian, and Berlusconi criticize.
“Grillo has intercepted real demands for the moralization of politics, for cutting waste and privileges. We also want to answer those demands,” Stefano Fassina, a member of Bersani’s Democratic Party told broadcaster Tgcom24.
Grillo, who did not stand for Parliament but acts as party spokesman, posted on Twitter: “The M5S will not ally with anyone, as it has always stated.”
But Dario Fo, a Nobel laureate who has endorsed him, urged Grillo to strike a deal with the Democratic Party.
Front Section, Pages 6 on 02/27/2013