Angel and Tiggs

There’s this strange phenomenon that emerges among world leaders during crises, it’s what I call “crisis mojo”, you’ve either got it or you don’t.  If you don’t, bad luck for you.  If you do, well, then you have lots of room to manoeuvre.   You can see who has it, especially now, in the midst of world leaders scrambling to stay on top and show that they are in charge for a reason.

Two men who seem to have it in spades are the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, the silver-tongued billionaire and British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, the perpetually awkward successor to Tony Blair.

Silvio Berlusconi

Berlusconi is doing well.  His political power has grown as a result of the crisis and he now finds himself in a fortuitous position, controlling hordes of public funds that will most likely be used to help the private financial institutions in Italy.  He’s also going to be receiving help from his centre-right party, the People of Liberty, which currently is standing strong in the midst of other bickering factions.  The fact that he isn’t facing much of an opposition right now and currently is favourably viewed by the Italian public just sweetens the pot.

Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown is not doing too shabby either.  Considering he was almost at the point of being ousted by opposition leader David Cameron, as Prime Minister just last month makes him even more fortunate than the proverbial phoenix.  Since the crisis and after the £500 billion bailout to British banks, Brown has re-invented himself as the very capable leader, the go-to man, the man that the British can trust to lift Britain out of the financial mess.  The talk in the press is no longer about whether Brown or the Labour Party is in deep trouble but rather, whether he is the man to lead the world out of financial ruin.

Well, I don’t know if it will be harsh to call these men opportunists, they are after all consummate politicians.  And what they are doing right now is part of their jobs.  But you have to wonder; Brown was in dire straits only last month and Berlusconi is on trial for illegally concealing accounts.  But then again, it’s not like there was a job description posted for the perfect candidate for dealing with the current financial turmoil.  I guess that’s why these men have got it, the crisis mojo.  They are both living it up, at least for now.