Polls show that most Italians are squarely behind Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. But since he re-took the reins in Rome, Il Cavaliere has made few difficult decisions. That will soon change.

It's nice to see heads of government in a good mood. Last Monday, on his 72nd birthday, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was in high spirits. Standing in front of a villa he had recently purchased on Lago Maggiore with his arm around one of his grandchildren, he was elated by recent polls. "Public opinion is on my side," he said.

Rising prices? No problem, says Berlusconi. "I'll make a deal with the major chains and retailers." The opposition? "Non existent, invisible!" The prospect of legal action against Berlusconi has faded far into the background, and even his football club, AC Milan, is winning …