Q: Who is Italy's prime minister?

A: huh? Prime minister? Is this a trick question? Italy doesn't have a prime minister.

That may have been my answer prior to moving to Italy. I was that ignorant of the political goings on. Today (in the vein of shticky comedies with carefully crafted misunderstandings--Who's on first?) this answer is correct. Who is Italy's prime minister? Nobody.

Normally, there is one. (A president too, but the president is more of a figurehead.) On Wednesday, however, Romano Prodi resigned from his post as prime minister of Italy. Leaving us with no prime minister. Can you imagine the headline: Bush Steps Down ? (Of course you can, and have, many times I'm sure.)

Prodi lasted nine months--three more months than the life expectancy of a prime minister here. Did you get that? The head political leader here typically changes every six months or so.

No wonder the laws and government here seem so discombobulated.

(That is the extent of my political summary. I really still don't have a clue what goes on here in the news. Still don't understand the word on the street....)