Earlier today we took a peek at a little history behind the curtain of Italian politics. While we wait for the results in their election (notoriously inaccurate exit polls show Berlusconi with a lead for now) let's crack open some Chianti and meet the candidates.

Silvio Berlusconi, the would-be three-term premier, is known for his off-color humor. How off? Like, I don’t know, maybe once saying, “Chinese communists used to eat children”? He later apologized, of course, and is widely considered Italy’s most entertaining politician. Funny résumé tidbit? The self-made man was once a cruise-ship singer. While the tips were probably great, he made his real euros as a businessman, in particular an empire of privately-owned television stations. But for an Italy teetering on the edge of recession, his business acumen is what the people want.

His opponent may sound familiar to those following the US elections. To see why, read more. With an intellectual air and a campaign slogan that translates to, “Yes, it can be done,” Walter Veltroni is considered Italy’s Obama. What country doesn’t need one? He speaks of hope. He admires the Kennedys! And at 52, he’s awfully young to be prime minister. He would be the youngest in post-World War II Italy. Though he got his start as an activist in the Italian Communist Party, he now dons a bipartisan allure. His critics chide him for trying to be all things to all people.

For all Berlusconi and Veltroni’s differences, policy-wise these two oni’s actually have a lot in common. They both support tax cuts, restoring public programs, and moving toward a two-party system. In fact, they are so close many are calling for a joint coalition in which they would govern together, and while Berlusconi welcomes the possibility, Valtroni rejects it. Hmm. . . but does he denounce it? Stay tuned to see the results of this match up!

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