In Italy, Gianfranco Fini, who has distanced his party, the post-fascist National Alliance, from its fascist heritage, joined the government of Silvio Berlusconi in 1994.

ECONOMIST: A conundrum for Austria��and for Europe

But others, including the post-fascist National Alliance's leader, Gianfranco Fini, whose party is set to join Mr Berlusconi's in a coalition government if the left loses the election due by next spring, suggested that the boss had mistackled.

ECONOMIST: Berlusconi gets the blues

But he would be vulnerable to Gianfranco Fini, the foreign minister, who is also deputy prime minister and leader of the second-biggest party on the right, the formerly neo-fascist National Alliance.

ECONOMIST: Italy takes a wobbly step towards two-party politics