Image from The Economist

The President of the Council of Ministers is accused of corruption. The News is in all today’s newspapers.
I have asked that he should resign. I’ve done this because I see it as my duty as a representative of the Italian people.

However it’s necessary to underline that this judicial proceeding, like many others that have involved the current President of the Council, has no bearing on elections and should not have in the future.

Whoever believes in the legend of the “red gowns” will have thought that this is yet another in a long line of unjustified attacks. The others will think that this is yet one more event confirming his inadequacy in holding public office.

But all the people on each side of this argument can judge the social, political and economic outcomes of the Government’s actions: even those who are convinced that their highest representative is persecuted.

The judgement about the elections must refer to the economic disaster for which this government is totally responsible.
They should note the sliding back and the impoverishment of the nation. They should note the closing down of companies and establishments.

This Government has not maintained any of its promises.

A few years ago there was a positive balance for foreign trade of 35 thousand million Euros (about 70 million million lire). At the end of 2005 this was in deficit by about 10 thousand million Euros.
Our country has squandered resources to a value of almost 90 million million lire in just a few years.

It’s a bankruptcy situation and we’ll really be bankrupt if we don’t send home these incapable people.