Dismaying though it is that Italy this weekend faces yet another general election, the prospect that it will return an ineffectual government headed by Silvio Berlusconi, and staffed by the same, unredeemable caste of politicians that consistently ducks the challenges the country can no longer afford to evade, is profoundly depressing.

The outgoing centre-left coalition of Romano Prodi, in power less than two years, had made modest progress – especially in improving Italy’s disastrous public finances – as it lurched from one crisis to another. Nothing in the previous record of Mr Berlusconi suggests this crab-like advance will continue.