Yesterday Bob sounded off on the election of Silvio Berlusconi as Italy’s prime minister for a third term – despite what the New York Times describes as his “shockingly meager achievements in office.” Now there’s this bit from RFE/RL which speculates that Italy’s stagnating economy could drive Berlusconi to think up some innovative uses of his “special relationship” with oil-and-gas rich Vladimir Putin:

But economics is likely to play a major role in Berlusconi’s calculations. Italy’s economy is stagnating and many expect the country to head into a recession. Which is why analysts think Berlusconi will emphasize his special relationship with energy-rich Russia. During his last tenure as Italian premier, Berlusconi forged close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, defending Moscow’s actions in Chechnya and building close economic links with Russia. And Putin will be the first foreign leader Berlusconi welcomes, when the two men meet for talks in Sardinia on April 17.