24 July 2006

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