A general test of a two sided government
On Monday there’s a vote on the pardon law. The Unione and the CDL will vote for it to be approved with a big majority. The pardon law will include financial crimes, corruption, false accounting even in relation to the Public Administration. Everyone is in agreement because everyone in one way or another is involved. This pardon was not in the manifesto of the Unione and it is a favour done to large swathes of the CDL. It is a general test of the governability of the country.
To the Council of Ministers I expressed my absolute disapproval and that of Italia dei Valori. I have proposed that I should resign as a minister to the indifference of my colleagues. Out of a sense of responsibility to the country I cannot withdraw support and run the risk of early elections and the return of Berlusconi.
If I resign as Minister I can no longer be useful to the citizens for the development of the infrastructure of the country. If I don’t resign and don’t withdraw Italia dei Valori from the government I am hostage to a situation that disgusts me. Politicians are always further away from the citizens. But I believe instead that politicians must be at the service of the citizens and explain the reasons for their choices with absolute clarity.
I dream of a different country, without the internal logic of the parties. Today I’m facing a choice: leave my position as Minister or stay with it. I would like to listen to your voices. I would like to listen to you who are following me in this blog. Write to me. Before I decide I will read all your comments.
Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in
Politics
Comments(10)
| Write a comment
| Sign-up
| Send to a friend
|
Print
Comments
Hi,
I found your blog via google by accident and have to admit that youve a really interesting blog :-)
Just saved your feed in my reader, have a nice day :)
Posted by: Florian | January 29, 2007 05:33 PM
La sua BATTAGLIA contro l'indulto "salva ladri" è una cosa che ci onora. Se Lei la perde mi pento di aver votato per l'Ulivo.
Che Dio la protegga da ladroni, ladruncoli e compagni di merende.
Posted by: Gabbrielli Furio | July 29, 2006 05:25 PM
Sono pienamente d'accordo con lei nella sua dura opposizione all'indulto cosi come e' stato disegnato, includendo reati finanziari e di corruzione. Capisco il dilemma in cui e' colto, stare per salvarci da un ritorno di Berlusconi e fari comunque la sua parte nel governo, o lasciare per coerenza con se stesso sul punto dell'indulto con tutti i rischi che possono correre. Senza dubbio vorrei che optasse per la prima opzione, resti!!! In politica come lei sa molto meglio di me, e' una questione del minore danno possibile. Il minor danno possibile al momento e' ovviamente tenerci questo governo. Se solo si avesse vinto piu' nettamente per non stare al riccatto di quel losco e ridicolo personaggio che e' Mastella!! Purtroppo non e' stato cosi. Non solo per la legge elettorale ma perche' i media hanno stabilito l'agenda della campagna elettorale, e e i media sappiamo chi li controlla. La riforma dei media e' essenziale se vogliamo avere un govenro piu' rappresentativo e trasparente, e se non vogliamo avere tra i piedi personaggi come Berlusconi e Mastella, tra gli altri. AUguri di buon lavoro. Resti per favore!!!
Posted by: Fabrizio Trifiro | July 29, 2006 10:50 AM
I am Maltese, so maybe I have no right to comment. But we are both EU members, and the world is getting smaller and smaller all the time. I tend to agree with all, or rather most of your arguments. I love politics; but I hate personalised politics. You tend to be first of all anti Berlusconi like the majority of the Unione. This is wrong. You could be against his methods, against his visions, against his programme, against the way he expresses himself; but you should not and must not be against the man just because he happens to be a very rich and successful man. Politics should be aimed towards positive ideas and needed reform, and NOT against men and what they represent. Questo e' come la penso io. Magari sono sbagliato. Grazie per la opportunita che mi hai dato di comunicare con te. Auguri e tanti saluti da Malta.
paolo attard
28/07/06
Posted by: Paul Attard | July 28, 2006 09:38 AM
caro Di Pietro, hai detto la verità e ora non puoi tirarti indietro. Paga il costo e dimettiti, il tuo consenso nel Paese è cresciuto, non sperperarlo.
Posted by: G.Fabbri | July 28, 2006 09:21 AM
Dear Minister Di Pietro:
You should cast your vote against this travesty of justice.
I suggest however that you should resign only if your colleagues (no offense intended) in the government prevent you from implementing the "infrastructure program" that you may have deemed necessary, especially if it benefits the South, the region that everybody wants to help, albeit in words only.
I keep telling whomever I talk to that:" Il riscatto del Mezzogiorno non puo' che essere opera dei suoi figli".
So, carry on and good luck.
Posted by: Luigi Sardelli | July 26, 2006 03:42 AM
Mr.Di Pietro,hold on,soon or later the tide will turn,hang in there you got the support of lots expatriates,good luck
Posted by: eva kulnura | July 25, 2006 02:04 AM
Caro MInistro Di Pietro:
persino Scalfari le ha dato ragione.
Ed allora, duro!!! E senza sconti.
Decenni fa si consumo' il piu' grosso crimine contro il Paese quando un Ministro di Grazia e Giustizia aboli' l'epurazione e mando' assolti da ogni crimine i fascisti, senza processo.
Oggi, le stesse anime buone propongono il colpo di spugna per evasori, concussori, ladri, contrabbandandolo per atto dovuto nei confronti di chi affolla le carceri, forse senza una buona ragione.
VERGOGNA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Vergogna, quando si usano i deboli come paravento per mascherare i propri giochi di potere!!
E dove sarebbe la differenza? Dove l'imperativo morale? Dove l'etica!!!! Svanita l'eco dei magniloquenti proclami (L'Italia riparte, Cambieremo l'Italia et similia) resta lo squallore del modus operandi della 1^ Repubblica (e dove sarebber la 2^?).
Provvedimenti del genere forse, solo forse, sfolleranno le carceri.
Sfoltiranno certamente il centro-sinistra dato che sembrera' inutile andare a votare.
Avanti quindi, senza timore.
Posted by: Luigi Sardelli | July 25, 2006 01:54 AM
Dear Minister
I’m puzzled as to whether the law that is going through parliament is about “pardon” or “clemency”.
The following article on “Agenzia Giornalistica Italia - News In English” is using both terms “pardon” and “clemency”. Are both terms appropriate in reference to this Act?
PARDON: DI PIETRO, MISLEADING 'BALLET' ON MY RESIGNATION
(AGI) - Rome, Jul 24 - "The ballet being acted out regarding my resignations is misleading, 'Is Di Pietro resigning or is he not'. The problem is the provision for pardon on infractions even to the expense of the Public Administration. You will know what I will do the following day." Minister Antonio Di Pietro (IDV) repeats his contrariety at the Lower House during the general discussion on pardons, but brings the debate back to the content of the clemency provision the Lower House would approve between Wednesday and Thursday. "I hereby repeat my request for an urgent meeting of all the secretaries," he said. "I cannot accept the equation saying 'anyways, Di Pietro won't make the government fall, so who cares if he's against it and if he leaves the government.' I will not accept this equation, because it is not a politically correct way to respond and does not deal with the problems. We are not blackmailers, but we are capable of mobilising the people." (AGI) -
241649 LUG 06
In the AGI article headed: “JAILS: MASTELLA AND NAPLES ARCHBISHOP IN POGGIOREALE” the words of the Archbishop are reported as: “I am therefore asking for an act of clemency, which does not mean simply pardoning…”
If the law goes through Parliament is there any way of stopping its application? Would it be possible to appeal to the President of the Republic not to sign something, or to appeal to a European body to prevent lawlessness in Italy? Could we appeal to the United Nations?
Where does this all end?
If the Italian people elect a government based on their manifesto and then the government ignores the manifesto and starts passing “lawlessness laws”, what rights have the citizens got? How can they censor the government? How can they protect their rights?
I wish you health and cool breezes.
Posted by: Elizabeth Birks | July 24, 2006 06:19 PM
Sono felice che lei legga tutti i commenti.
La legge sull'indulto è un'oscenità senza eguali.
Io mi vergognavo di dire che ero italiano durante il periodo Berlusconi, e mi ritrovo a vergognarmi ancora.
Avevo speranze con questo nuovo governo, ma la classe dirigente di questo paese si dimostra al 90% assolutamente priva di principi.
Mi complimento con lei per questo articolo, almeno c'è qualcuno che ha il coraggio di distaccarsi da queste metodologie indegne.
Posted by: Alessandro Petri | July 24, 2006 02:08 PM