From German newspaper, Der Speigel:

Center-left leader Pier Luigi Bersani was unable to win control of the Senate, meaning that a stable government in Italy looks unlikely. The results for Europe could be devastating.

  • Berlusconi won a majority in the Senate,
  • former comedian Beppe Grillo had nabbed 24 percent in the Senate,
  • So Berlusconi and Grillo together have a blocking majority. Without their approval, laws cannot be passed.
  • They are both euroskeptics, … and they have vowed resistance to the “dictates from Berlin.”
  • They stand opposed to everything that a Bersani government seeks to — and must — accomplish.
  • Already, there are voices — mostly from the Bersani camp — speaking of new elections.
  • Post-election Italy, they say, is ungovernable.
  • At the very least, it is likely to take some time before a government can be assembled, if it can be done at all.

The results from the election on Sunday and Monday present perhaps the worst scenario possible, short of a Berlusconi victory. Europe is bound to suffer.