Opponents of this government said it would happen – and it's all too easy to smirk with we-told-you-so glee.
So on top of Stefan Lehne's recommendations for changes to the system and the bureaucracy, we should consider the Berlusconi option: like Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany could just smirk at each other, and let the world know that Lady Ashton has lost their confidence.
Before you smirk, though, raise your eyes just a bit.There, amid the wildflowers and tall grass, you can make out the charred concrete floor of the Branch Davidian compound.
As he came back toward me, he smirked (he always seems to smirk, except perhaps when he's in the water) and said: "The Initiative Neue Soziale Marktwirtschaft (Initiative for a New Social Market Economy) is really just the outsourced lobby of the metal and electronics industries".That caught me aback.
The Mafia will smirk at Mr Orlando's heavy defeat in last month's race for the regional presidency.Mr Orlando, like other enemies of the Mafia, stresses the importance of "changing cultural attitudes".
His students smirk at his arriving for classes with an entourage of flunkies.
No one who laughed at his performances in England can smirk at his return this summer.
President Putin appears to smirk while Mr Obama attempts to hide his disdain.
Out came a magnificent stream of Mexican mouthing off, his accent getting stronger with every smirk and every swear word.
The slightest hint of a smirk stretches across his face.
The best friend completed his musings on the identity of the assailant with the scissors, bade me goodnight, opened the door and departed, leaving me alone with the audience and a knowing smirk.
