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Speaking of Things that Aren’t Democratic…

- November 11, 2011

Earlier this week, I raised the issue that there might be some tension between the sudden “savior status of technocratic government”:http://tmc.org/blog/2011/11/07/its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-technocratic-government/ and traditional notions of democratic accountability. Thus it was with great interest that I read the lead to the AP story on Italy’s likely incoming new – “TECHNOCRATIC” – Prime Minister, Mario Monti:

Italy’s Senate approved crucial economic reforms demanded by the European Union on Friday, the first step in paving the way for Premier Silvio Berlusconi to resign as early as this weekend and a transitional government to be formed. The 156-12 vote took place after respected economist Mario Monti – widely expected to become the interim prime minister – was welcomed with applause in the Senate chamber, where he was officially designated senator for life. [emphasis added]

It’s not enough he gets to head a government without winning an election — he needs to be senator for life as well?