Amanpour explains: 77-year-old disgraced Berlusconi turns Italy into a political Circus Maximus - In case you thought the United States was the only country flailing, and failing, at governing itself, imagine a world where the government can fall at the whim of a 77-year-old convict. Italy, which held its umpteenth election just nine months ago, teeters on the brink of political chaos yet again, following a power play by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. This past weekend, five members of Berlusconi's "People of Liberty” party – a name only George Orwell could love – withdrew from the fragile coalition government, forcing a vote of confidence on Wednesday.

http://amanpour.blogs.cnn.com/2013/10/02/amanpour-explains-77-year-old-disgraced-berlusconi-turns-italy-into-a-political-circus-maximus/