ITALY's low key general election campaign has finally hotted up with less than a week to go before Sunday's vote.
Tempers frayed at the weekend and accusations were exchanged during the first television confrontation between the two major coalition leaders - the media tycoon, Mr Silvio Berlusconi of the centre right, and economics professor Romano Prodi of the centre left.
For much of this campaign the non committed Italian voter has been in an understandable quandry as he or she has been "love bombed" by both coalitions. Both sides are keen to play down the extremist past of key elements, in their camps the former fascists on the right, the former communists on the left - in a desperate bid to win crucial votes from the centre ground.
The result has been a campaign of such strained reasonableness that the undecided voter has probably remained that way - undecided. However, with last weekend's first television debate, the campaign suddenly changed temperature.
The previously reserved Prof Prodi so effectively got his retaliation in first" against Mr Berlusconi that the unthinkable happened. Mr Berlusconi, the media mogul and master of the art of television democracy, appeared to be outwitted on his home ground.
Prof Prodi accused Mr Berlusconi of having created his $7 billion Fininvest Group from political influence rather than entrepreneurial ability. He added that Mr Berlusconi's seven month experience in government in 1994 had been a "disastrous summer" for Italy.
Mr Berlusconi replied that if Prof Prodi were to rule Italy as he had directed the state holding giant, IRI, then, it would be a case of "poor Italy".
Still smarting from the impact of the television debate the next day, Mr Berlusconi opted to replay a winning card from his blitzkrieg successful campaign of two years ago, and suggested if the centre left were to win next Sunday free and open elections might never be seen again in Italy.
Such an alarmist accusation prompted Prof Prodi to retort that Mr Berlusconi had resorted to terrorist tactics, adding that the government plans of Mr Berlusconi and friends represent the real terror currently lacing Italy.
Mr Berlusconi should take some Valium and calm down, Prof Prodi concluded. From now until Friday night, when the campaign officially closes, the Valium may be in short supply.