November 29, 2006

Google

The episode of the young man suffering from Down’s syndrome who was maltreated in class, filmed and published on Google Video, has had as a consequence an investigation into Google. This is a situation that cannot be understood.
It is in fact not materially possible for Google and for the major websites and portals to verify every item of content before it is published.
If this were requested and imposed, the natural consequence would be the end of the Internet where millions of pages are published every day. Instead the ones to be severely punished are the young people who attacked their companion who could not defend himself. Their parents should be summonsed too. Civil education should be taught in school.
The only result of incriminating Google is to divert attention from the problem which is criminality among young people, to the finger that is pointing to it. To put the Internet on an equal footing with the publishing industry from a legal point of view, as has been proposed, is not realistic.
Companies should be asked to put in controls that are in the realm of the possible, but above all the authorities must be supplied with the identities of those who are responsible for each individual publication.

Postato da Antonio Di Pietro in Information
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November 28, 2006

Election Frauds

Deaglio’s denunciation of the manipulation of the votes in the last elections can have only one outcome: the recount of the blank ballot papers.
If this were not to happen, there would remain for ever in the citizens the suspicion of election fraud.
Deaglio’s video was immediately sold out in the shops. A sign that he has not been ignored.
However, the main newspapers after having forcefully presented the denunciation of election frauds attributed to the Centre Right, then almost wiped out the item with no apparent reason.
Many of Deaglio’s arguments are convincing. The Centre Left had a strong advantage over the CdL and it disappeared in a few hours.
The percentage of blank ballot papers was the same everywhere. This circumstance is difficult to explain.
I myself, before 9 April, on this blog, and with an article paid for in the daily newspapers, I denounced possible election frauds due to the electronic count.
The magistracy has the duty to examine this in depth. A democracy cannot tolerate any shadow on the elections.
If the ballot papers turn out to have been properly counted, I will be the first to be happy about that.
But if the vote turns out to have been tampered with, it would be the most serious episode in the history of the Republic.

Postato da Antonio Di Pietro in Politics
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November 26, 2006

The cost of politics

During the election campaign, one of the points of Italia dei Valori’s election manifesto was to limit the cost of politics.

Italia dei Valori has presented 3 amendments to the Finance law to reduce the waste in politics.
The only amendment that has been accepted fixes a limit on the salary and the final payments to public managers who are often sent away with millions of Euro after a failed management situation.
Two other amendments to modify the current regulations on election expenses to the parties have been turned down by all the parties - those in the majority grouping and those in opposition.
The first asked that the count for election expenses to the parties should be done on the basis of actual votes cast (and thus to reduce the numbers) and not, as now, on the number having the right to vote.
Today the parties receive, according to the results in the different elections, a percentage of 4 Euro per Italian citizen with the right to vote for each year of a parliament: One Euro for the elections to the Lower House, One Euro for the Upper House (Senate), one Euro for the Regional elections and one Euro for the European elections.
The second amendment was to abolish the regulation that allows for money to be paid to the parties if there are early elections, for double the value. One for the interrupted term of office and one for the new one.
Italia dei Valori is apparently the only party in Parliament looking to reduce waste and the privileges of politicians. In reality, it is representing all Italian citizens, not just those that voted for it.

Postato da Antonio Di Pietro in Reducing the costs of politics
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The “interest” belonging to the Italians

Palenzona, President of the Associazione italiana società concessionaria autostrade e trafori (Aiscat) {Italian Association of motorway and tunnel companies}, explains in a language that is probably his own that:

“Di Pietro tells lies” and that “It’s not true that Autostrade has not made 2,500,000,000 Euro of investments but it is the system that has not permitted the investments to be made.” A contradictory analysis that in effect admits that the investments have not been made. Meanwhile, the motorway tariffs have gone up and generous dividends have been distributed to the shareholders.
I have asked for the investments not made to be made available to the Ministry. I have asked for the interest that these sums have gathered, interest that must not be engulfed by the concessionary companies, to be destined to the infrastructure work as it is interest related to capital that is the property of the State.
This position has been rejected by the concessionary companies.
They have taken their case against the interest that has accrued to Lazio’s TAR {Tribunale Amministrativo Regionale =Regional Administrative Tribunal} Just yesterday, the TAR rejected their suspending request because of the lack of the basic prerequisites.
In fact the TAR has decided that the investments not carried out must be managed separately in the Balance Sheet.
I would never be so rash to say that Palenzona tells lies. Perhaps his outburst, as well as being an interested opinion, was just a hasty one.

Postato da Antonio Di Pietro in Competitiveness of the economic system
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November 21, 2006

Poison and Politics

In Milan there’s been the umpteenth staged event against smog with the Sunday without cars. A precaution that has left things exactly as they were before.
In its document called “Air Quality Guidelines” the World Health Organisation underlines how going beyond the limit for PM2.5 tiny dust particles in the air can lead to serious consequences for the organism, even death and especially for children. .
During the month of November the PM2.5 threshold has been surpassed 14 times in the first 18 days and on 16 November it reached a value of 117.
Milan is at the centre of attention for its level of atmospheric pollution. But it’s not the only city in this situation. It can however become a national point of reference for choices relating to city traffic that by now cannot be put off.
The proposals put forward up until now have found obstacles in the usual crossed vetoes and voting interests between the Region of Lombardy, the Province and the City of Milan and the government.
The idea of the entry ticket has not been accepted. The idea of alternating registration numbers has been rejected. The centre can’t be closed. The cycle tracks hardly exist. Public transport has not been strengthened and instead of electric buses we’ve got buses running on petrol.
Meanwhile, citizens get ill and die from tumours.
Italia dei Valori will make its voice known, with the help of the citizens, to adopt immediately measures to protect public health. The entry ticket and the closure of the centre of the city as soon as possible.

Postato da Antonio Di Pietro in Society
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November 18, 2006

Infrastructure Priorities

Diagram: plans of work and infrastructures on Italian territory
Yesterday at Palazzo Chigi I met representatives of the Regions and I presented to the press the document of infrastructure priorities.
The infrastructure priorities are set out to develop the country through a process of programming with the Regions and the local and territorial bodies.
The improvement of infrastructure and above all the great axes of connections (pan-European and national corridors) is a necessary condition to avoid the marginalisation of our country in the European Community.
The secondary networks and their connection to the principal networks will be strengthened to give a more equal access on a territorial level to intercontinental traffic. The politics of development must be distinguished between the North and the South of Italy.
The development in the North needs to tackle and resolve the problems of congestion.
The South can legitimately hope for a strategic role as a European gateway for traffic coming from the Far East and the Middle East and from North Africa. For this reason, it is necessary to identify access points in terms of ports, airports and networks that connect to the whole of the continent.
It’s necessary to intervene with big engineering projects, but also with infrastructures that are functional to the residents. It’s also necessary to ensure the functioning and the production capacity to avoid that the country isn’t simply transformed into a passageway for goods on their way to Europe.

Postato da Antonio Di Pietro in Economy
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November 17, 2006

Structural Costs and Competition

In Italy we are living a paradox. In a situation in which there is difficulty in the economic and industrial system of the country, the structural costs that companies have to cope with are higher than those in many European nations.
I’m referring, for example, to the costs of energy, of connectivity, and of motorways. Companies have to compete in a global market and often have difficulty in surviving. Thus they must have services that are of a quality and at costs on a level with Europe. The efficiency of the system that is this country starts here: from competitive services.
Italia dei Valori has decided to start a national awareness raising campaign on this issue. A campaign that will take advantage of comparative data, of discussions with the bodies devoted to overseeing the situation and a constant flow of information.
What is valid for the companies is even more valid for the families. Italy in Europe can no longer allow itself to have natural monopolies with a logic based mainly on profit and thus penalizing the system that is this country.
European prices, European efficiency to be transformed into greater possibilities for competition for the companies and solid savings for the citizens.

Postato da Antonio Di Pietro in Economy
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November 14, 2006

Respect the manifesto. Respect voters.

The defeat of the Republicans in the United States mid-term elections was to be expected, although not to the actual extent and with the loss of the House of Representatives and the Senate at the same time.
The extensive victory for the Democrats overshadowed the re-election of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Republican Governor of California. The voters elected him for the courage of his proposals, above all those on the environment and global warming, but also for capping the price of pharmaceuticals and for guaranteed minimum wages.
The people of California voted for the programme and not for the Republican candidate.
Arnold Schwarzenegger represents a reference point for the transition from political elections to elections based on a programme and on the credibility of the person putting it forward and of politicians serving the citizens rather than working according to a logic of political alignment.
To relaunch itself today, the Unione needs to apply the same recipe as Schwarzenegger: to develop the programme for which it has a mandate and to do this with rigour.
I won’t get tired of repeating that the law on the pardon was not just a formidable stupidity in favour of the Centre Right, but it was a betrayal of the electors and of our election manifesto.
It was an error that must not be repeated. We were elected to keep the promises made to the citizens. Only for this. The only other possible alternative is to go back to the ballot box.

Postato da Antonio Di Pietro in Politics
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November 11, 2006

The new Election Law

Instead of using a pen to eliminate the electoral law defined as ‘porcata’ {disgusting} by those of the Centre Right who actually drew it up, the Unione is considering the adoption of an election law that is even worse if that is possible. A further “disgusting” one.
With the new law it is proposed in fact to eliminate the parties that are uncomfortable for the alliance majority-opposition that has been seen on the floor of the House more than once starting from the voting for the pardon.
The new election law would eliminate every minor party from the Senate, the Upper House, for which there would be a lower threshold of 8%. According to the logic of power the major parties DS, Margherita and Forza Italia, unfortunately tend to converge. Before the election, the government coalition in every way fought against the current election law. After the government was installed, nothing has been done to get rid of it. The reason is clear: all the elected were chosen, not by the citizens but by the secretaries of the parties.
The parties do not see any advantage in doing without faithful members of parliament, who are in fact employees, in exchange for members of parliament elected by the people.
Italia dei Valori will do everything possible to eliminate the disgusting law and also to prevent even worse ones being created.

Postato da Antonio Di Pietro in Politics
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November 08, 2006

Demonstration for the rule of law and safety

Saturday 11 November in Naples, Italia dei Valori has organized a public demonstration that I will take part in to relaunch the themes of the rule of law and safety, starting from this city.
The growth in criminal activity that is keeping Naples in check, has got worse after the approval of the pardon law, the lack of reforms to the justice system, the continual state of existence without the rule of law and the lack of safety are incentives for Italia dei Valori to send out a clear alarm signal to all the political powers and to civil society.
This is why we have decided to organize in Naples itself, so rapidly, a public demonstration to relaunch the campaign for the rule of law and the safety of citizens, as elements for development and progress of the Parthenopaen city, the symbol of the Mezzogiorno {South of Italy}
Without the rule of law, there will never be the growth of the country and we want to start from this point to say "enough" and to start the new pathway towards a true State based on rights.

PS The demonstration is open to the public and will be at the Hotel Terminus, Piazza Garibaldi 9, in Naples from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm.
At 10:30 am there will be a press conference to present the demonstration and the campaign called "Rule of Law and Safety"

Postato da Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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November 07, 2006

Widespread agreement

Two thirds of Italians are in favour of elections if the Prodi government were to fall, according to the results of an Ipr survey.
The citizens are against a widespread agreement. They want alternatives and the restoration of the previous election law. The CDL has nostalgia for power and some sectors of the majority feel an irresistible call back to intrigues to free themselves from uncomfortable government companions like Italia dei Valori. These are the only reasons for the so-called grand coalition. It’s a choice that is highly unpopular, as have been the law on the pardon and on telephone intercepts.
I believe that we politicians must demonstrate greater humility and take note of the evaluation of our electors before taking a decision. To ignore the wishes of the citizens is an anti-democratic action. To justify one’s own political authority by accusing citizens of not being capable of understanding the goodness of government choices is an attitude that is both senseless and arrogant. And it is exactly what has happened and is still happening for the pardon.

Postato da Antonio Di Pietro in Politics
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November 05, 2006

The merits of the Guardia di Finanza

Just recently the Guardia di Finanza {Finance Police} have been under constant attack from the media in relation to the case of the so-called 'spionaggio fiscale' {tax-espionage}. Yet in fact, it seems that it relates to this body only marginally as only 10 out of the 128 people under investigation are in the finance police and they are, as it happens, at low levels.
I would like to point out the work done by the Guardia di Finanza. Last year they discovered undeclared taxable income to the value of 19,400,000,000 Euro and unpaid VAT equal to 4,700,000,000 Euro. As regards work on the black economy, they discovered 30,000 unregulated workers. Furthermore, they discovered fraud in public accounts amounting to 428,000,000 in European Union funds and 260,000,000 at the level of the State, the regions and local authorities.
This is just a part of their activities. They also fight against money laundering, usury, counterfeit goods, drug trafficking and above all operations like the Parmalat swindle, and takeover bids by property companies.
The Guardia di Finanza carries out tasks that are of extreme importance and delicacy in the fight against tax dodging and that must be a constant priority for this Government.
The Guardia di Finanza is an uncomfortable reality for many who consider tax dodging not to be immoral.
Tax dodging is stealing from society. Those who practice it are thieves who oblige other citizens to pay taxes for them as well and yet they make use of the social services. The Guardia di Finanza should be strengthened and protected from attacks based on false premises.

Postato da Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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November 04, 2006

Naples and the pardon

photo from ansa.it

The pardon has generated an unprecedented sense of impunity among the criminal organisations. Up until now a good 1,000 crimes have been committed by those who have been freed from prison. Among these some homicides. The pardon has not even resolved the problem of the prisons.
The proof of this is Regina Coeli {prison in Rome}whose prison population has gone from 900 prisoners before the pardon, to 746 after the pardon and now has reached 980. The pardon has been useful only to the furbetti del parlamentino {crafty ones of the little parliament} and not just to organised crime.
Previti is still in Parliament. Many trials against those who have committed crimes against the public administration will not take place thanks to the pardon and those who will be found guilty will benefit from discounts of up to three years in prison.
And in this climate of dissolution of the civic sense and moral sense of the country, can we really be amazed at what is happening in Naples? If we don’t take action soon to clear out the anti-justice laws passed by Berlusconi and if we don’t put the Procure {justice offices} in a position to operate by giving them the tools and the financial means, then what is happening in Naples will be just the beginning.
The pardon was a despicable operation, from the moral and from the political viewpoint. The Unione is today seen by citizens as the only grouping responsible for the climate of permissiveness in the country and for the crimes that are following on from the pardon.
It has been forgotten that the pardon was voted for by a bipartisan majority and that the party that has gained the major benefits has been Forza Italia. It has truly been a great operation in communications.

Postato da Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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