Yet although Mr Berlusconi may survive the scandals that have engulfed him, he can scarcely appeal to voters for blood, sweat and tears so long as he insists that Italy has emerged almost unscathed from the world's economic meltdown rather as the barracks in which the G8 summit is being held weathered the earthquake.

ECONOMIST: Italy and the G8 summit: A cavalier preparing to host the world | The