In his first speech to Italy's new parliament, Silvio Berlusconi declared that he and his colleagues were "breathing in deep this new air". The prime minister was not talking of his big majority, but of the constructive engagement of the opposition leader, Walter Veltroni.rnThe legislature that emerged from the election in April has a tidier, British look. On the right is Mr Berlusconi's People of Freedom alliance, linked to the Northern League and a smaller Sicilian party. On the left is Mr Veltroni's Democratic Party (pd), yoked to a small anti-corruption party. In place of Britain's Liberal Democrats stands the Catholic Union of Christian and Centre Democrats. Mr Veltroni even has a Westminster-style "shadow cabinet".
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