6 BERLUSCONI’S SECOND GOVERNMENTAL TEST Maurizio Cotta The Second Berlusconi Government in Perspective Apart from the event itself, the formation of the second Berlusconi government is, from a wider perspective, replete with interesting elements. It facilitates a better understanding of where the trans- formation process of the Italian political system stands about 10 years after the crisis of the 1990s. The theme of government – its process of formation and completion, as well as its political basis and operational capacity – is of obvious importance. The ‘First Republic’ was predominantly characterised by the way government was produced (and how it consequently functioned). It is no coin- cidence that the debate on institutional reform that began in the 1980s targeted the issue of government and the need for reform. In this context, the Berlusconi government which came to power after the 2001 elections deserves attention for at least three main reasons: 1. this is the second attempt of the leader who formed his first government in the wake of the most acute phase of the Ital- ian crisis, during which he introduced some significant inno- vations (but also which quickly failed); 06 146-166 10/3/02 7:55 AM Page 146