Berlusconi Resignation: Crowds Celebrate After Italy's Prime Minister Steps Down (PHOTOS)

Silvio Berlusconi, Italian Prime Minister, has resigned from his position after 17 years in office.

News of the Berlusconi's resignation was no surprise to crowds gathered in front of Italy's presidential palace in Rome on Saturday, Nov. 12. People cheered, chanted and some even performed Handel's "Alleluia," the Associated Press reports.

Economist Mario Monti is expected to replace the 75-year-old media mogul, whose reign was filled with scandal and financial woes. Italian president Giorgio Napolitano will oversee the transition.

Click through the slideshow below to see how crowds reacted to Berlusconi's resignation.

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Comments

[sjaent2001]

03:51 PM on 11/13/2011

""""""Berlusconi Resignation: Crowds Celebrate After Italy's Prime Minister Steps Down""""Now all Italian ills and economic debts will vanish and economic recovery will bloom and all will have lots of jobs, and shout Hail Mary, just like the people of a desert land rejoiced also shouted a lot and a French philosopher wrote about that lamented a lot of what is coming about so many things that were never planned and thought of as after effect, and now wondering what lies ahead to achieve. Let the audicity of Hope relive and alive in Italy too. The political change which started with us is catching its pace across the globe now. And we still wait for things to Change --- So God help US ALL.

[LiberalLee]

08:06 PM on 11/13/2011

Getting rid of a national embarrassment who was more concerned about the next teeny-bopper he could grope and ogle is worth celebrating in itself.

[sjaent2001]

08:58 PM on 11/13/2011

My comment was about celebrations that are going on across the far lands for whatever reasons--- there are reasons for celebrations and you agree too ----- but with the change that we expected and that came to us why are we not celebrating except for a few ---- we have more on our plates to Repeal than to Appeal. So God help US also to celebrate as we near the HOLIDAYS..

[furby6]

12:14 PM on 11/13/2011

Another one bites the dust. Pretty soon it will be difficult to blame the old boss. Then what?

[rbenjamin]

09:36 AM on 11/13/2011

I'd like to see Berlusconi get a slot on "Dancing With the Stars."

[Alan Powers]

07:32 AM on 11/13/2011

Italy will not cut its crushing parliamentary salaries and numbers: Were they to say, "Let's have one rep for the same number of voters as the US," they would have about 120 in Parliament, instead of 700. They have, however, a stupendous black economy, in nero, so their debt is not as huge a ratio to their actual GDP.
Berlusconi provided entertainment as a ruler--rather like Herman Cain and Donald Trump as candidates--not to mention his ownership of entertainment, his TV companies and his control of public TV, too. Ruling Italy has not been about tough decisions, but about distracting the voters from their woes--meager salaries and 70% taxes (if people paid, which they sensibly do not). We will all miss him; without his bunga-bunga, the world press will have to get smart enough to cover famine, war and sovereign debt better than Ross Perot with his charts.

[oxi]

05:09 AM on 11/13/2011

I didn't know the banks had a huge fan club!

Banks 2, sovereign nations 0

Just like Greece, an insider bankster will be sworn in and let the average folks pay the price for it all...

[aFtersootdamP]

03:16 AM on 11/13/2011

Americans would be dancing in the streets if obama would resign.

[Chris Burgess]

04:44 AM on 11/13/2011

Just let you out of Disnyland did they?

[furby6]

12:16 PM on 11/13/2011

Yes, perhaps a few polyester clad folks would be giggling around in what looks like a dance. Good news though. That show plays daily at your local Walmart.

[Joe Viglione]

02:08 AM on 11/13/2011

Italy gets it right. In Medford Massachusetts the Mayor was just re-elected for years 25 and 26...that's LONGER than Berlusconi...and the Medford Housing Authority was raided 3 or 4 weeks before the election. It - and many other items - got hushed up in a free society. There's a media blackout in Medford, Massachusetts. Two City Councilors lashed out at the Mayor on November 1 and the tape of their criticism was censored and not played prior to the election.

[MaysaThinks]

11:32 PM on 11/12/2011

Cruel leaders are only replaced by new leaders who turn cruel -Che

[dancingbones]

09:03 PM on 11/12/2011

And he goes WEE WEE WEE WEE all the way home...

[oxi]

05:10 AM on 11/13/2011

You must like those large banks?

[obamathegreat235]

08:54 PM on 11/12/2011

I new chapter for Italy and Viva la Italia!

[oxi]

05:11 AM on 11/13/2011

Another pro-bankster that seeks overthrow of sovereign nations to install a bank puppet like Greece...

Italy lost just like Greece unless your a bankster!

[Candide33]

08:53 PM on 11/12/2011

Two countries have their leaders thrown out an have uber bankers installed in the same week? This does not bode well for the world.

[Lee Borne]

08:23 PM on 11/12/2011

bye bye big mouth....don't let the door hit u on ur way out!

[santiago sherwood]

08:21 PM on 11/12/2011

I am going to miss him, because now our leader will look more corrupt and stupid. He gave our GOP a glow of crediblitly.

[We Not Me]

08:04 PM on 11/12/2011

That silly old Fascist. Buh bye.

[rivrgrrl]

07:56 PM on 11/12/2011

Confessions of an Economic Hitman, written by John Perkins in 2004.

It explains how countries, like the US, goes into countries that are financially failing or struggling and by using bribery, coercion and false promises, manipulates the economic fate of said country, usually not in the best interests of said country, but very lucrative for a few individuals who profit handsomely while said country is stripped of it's assets, laid bare and then abandoned.

With the anything goes Wall Street environment, now even day traders can now influence the success or failure of whole countries.