The Center-Left's Poisoned Victory

<p> The year 2006 was by all means an election year: a significant proportion of voters were called to the polls three times. In at least two - the parliamentary elections of 9-10 April and the 25-26 June constitutional referendum - the voters' choices had extraordinary consequences. The parliamentary elections awarded victory to the center-left by the slimmest of margins yet ushered in a radical change in government whereas the referendum saw the rejection of the substantial revision of the Constitution that had been promoted by the previous center-right government. This volume deals with these elections and their effects namely the changes in the government majority and the Presidency of the Republic as well as the center-right's unsuccessful attempt at revenge in local elections through the constitutional referendum both resulting in wide-ranging changes introduced by the new majority in foreign policy. Other significant events are also examined such as the Russian natural gas crisis; the anti-high speed train movement; the capture of mafia don Bernardo Provenzano; the scandals that marred the world soccer in the year the national team won the World Cup; and the suspicious dealings involving telecommunications giant Telecom.</p>