Italy: An Italian change of guard

Italy’s faltering economy would benefit from stronger political leadership. The latest crisis in Prime Minister Romano Prodi’s 20-month old administration just might help provide it. The issue at hand is last week’s resignation of Clemente Mastella, the justice minister who was placed under investigation in a corruption case. Mastella, head of the small centre-left Udeur party, really is thought to be concerned with Prodi’s plan for an April referendum on electoral reform. If the reforms pass, h...