Italy’s stunned political parties searched for a way forward after an inconclusive election gave no one a parliamentary majority. Financial markets fell sharply at the prospect of a stalemate and threatening prolonged instability and a renewal of the European financial crisis. Today’s graphic is a snapshot of the Italian economy using eight key economic indicators.
27 Feb 2013Thomson Reuters
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Italy is governed by two houses with equal lawmaking power. The Chamber of Deputies is controlled by whichever group gets the majority nationally. The Senate is decided by region, with 55% of each region’s seats awarded to the biggest party there. In four large regions, the battle between center-left and center-right coalitions is too close to call. Today’s graphic summarizes the February 24-25th Italian election:
Japan’s general election is over – with main opposition leader Shinzo Abe winning back the country’s top job. And these are the traits and policies that are likely to define his term.
Last week, Yoshihiko Noda became the longest serving Japanese prime minister since Junichiro Koizumi stepped down in 2006 after five years in office. Since it seems as though a loss is looming, a comeback from behind would be nothing short of a political miracle. But since the vote is unlikely to produce a clear winner, a solid election result could keep Noda’s party in play if some sort of coalition is formed. Today’s graphic looks at key economic indicators during the tenures of Japanese prime ministers since 2000.
Political parties supporting Greece’s international bailout will begin forging a government today after an election victory over radical leftists off the prospect of the debt-laden country leaving the euro. The head of Greece’s New Democracy party began talks to form a government, giving him the daunting task of imposing austerity measures in a near-bankrupt economy while containing rising social tensions. Today’s graphic shows the results of yesterday’s election.
The moderate Socialist Francois Hollande beat conservative Nicolas Sarkozy after a bruising campaign dominated by the same anger over economic crisis that has felled 10 other European leaders since late 2009. Today’s graphic shows the final results for the election and which regions voted for each candidate.
