A lucid and fair analysis of the latest developments in traditionally-murky Italian politics, though I am sure Blair will not appreciate being paired with Berlusconi. It is still unclear whether Fini's long conversion to the middle ground of Italian politics is genuine, or whether it is solely motivated by a lust for power. What is even more worrying is the ineptitude of the Italian left to profit from the situation. Have they learnt nothing from New Labour? The Partito Democratico will never win an election if it does not come to terms with the fact that Italy is a fundamentally conservative country.

Nick Rigillo, journalist