This. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sleep.gif) You just have to see the whole lost of previous governments and how much time they spent to get an idea. Berlusconi has been at the top for 9 of the past 17 yersa. But still, the Italian nation as a whole needed a leader to guide them through these tough, hard years, and this guy was not that.

But hey, at least, he stepped down nice and easy. Anyway, the coutry is not as bad as Greece, that's got to count for something. It's the soverign debt of €1.9 trillion that's giving the sinking feeling.

Well, who is? Barack Obama? Sarkozy? Cameron? None of them found the right answer to economic problems of the 21st century. Angela Merkel does a good job IMO, at least a better job then most of the state leaders.

Agreed. And about Angela Merkel too, she is doing a fine job, but hey, it's Germany. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I do know of their problems (massive unemployment for one) before she was elected Chancellor, and yes, like you said, she does a pretty good job, but she has an excellent infrastructure to make her job (slightly) easy.

The rest of the leaders are in deep, though, and not a single one of them have the right answers.

Well if you look at Europe, which are the countries that are in terrible financial situations? Italy, Greece and Spain, it's no surprise that they are all mediterranean countries. And I say that because it's the same culture we have here in Malta, the "oh it will get done later, I have to have a siesta right now". It's just that attitude that tipifies these countries. Germany, Sweden, etc, none of these countries have these problems and imo their mentality has a big part in it