On the 1st April, the Cabinet passed a decree implementing the decisions handed down by the European Court of Justice. What was not included, notwithstanding the objections raised by the Italia dei Valori Party, was the decision handed down on 31 January 2008, which declared the Italian radio and television laws to be illegitimate due to the fact that they allow Rete4 to broadcast on the analogue frequencies that were assigned to Europa7.
What the Italians should know, is that we will all have to pay the princely sum of 300 thousand Euro per day in fines for this decision, retroactive to July 2006. A few hundred million Euro, just to enable Fede to continue with his electoral propaganda exercise, full-time.
I have said so before and I say so again: In the event that the centre-left wins the upcoming elections, the Italia dei Valori Party’s priority will be to sever the incestuous bond that ties information and politics to each other. Starting with Rete4.
Herewith is an article by Marco Travaglio, entitled "Vieni avanti decretino" (Come on little decree).
"Excellent news from the Democratic Party’s loft. Terrible news instead from Palazzo Chigi. Veltroni’s entourage, writes the Corriere, has realised that the final week of the electoral campaign needs to be spent attacking Berlusconi, so as to «mobilise the undecided ».
Goffredo Bettini has apparently said that: «I’ve had enough of being the good guy». Better late than never. However, after so many months of crazy dialogue with an adversary who was responding to bouts of intrigue and insults, now there is a risk that any sudden and controversial turnaround would appear to be somewhat fake. And that the desired outcome fails to materialise. After having spent years ignoring the reports of him being buddies with the Mafia, bribing judges, cooking the books, introducing shameful legislation and spreading lies about everything and everyone (ranging from Alitalia to his actual stature: he has once again started claiming that he is 1 metre 71 tall, when he actually has to struggle valiantly to measure 1 metre 60), dusting off these reports now, suddenly, just prior to the elections, would be counterproductive. How to attack him then? Firstly by highlighting the unacceptability of certain of the new entries on the Pdl’s list of candidates, which would make even the best electoral manifesto look ridiculous. Even those that blindly believe all of the Cavaliere and his allies’ promises would have some doubts regarding whether or not the promises could be fulfilled with people like Ciarrapico (black shirt & ring), General Speciale (State-sponsored Bass and State-sponsored flights, at the taxpayers expense), the Mafia and Camorra buddies (the latest one nabbed just the other day in Milan), Barbato the spittoon, the mortadella-maker Strano, the fantasmagorical Pizza, the Chief’s personal physiotherapist and good-natured fools surrounding them. A bit of good advertising has never hurt anyone involved in any election campaign. Then there is a topic that everyone is aware of and is close to the heart for many people, not only the left wingers, namely, breaking the ties between television broadcasters and politics. Get the parties out of RAI, get Berlusconi out of Mediaset or out of politics, introduce an anti-trust ceiling for private network ownership, open the market to new parties (non political). And this is where we get to the bad news from Palazzo Chigi. On 1st April (when else?) the Cabinet passed a decree for the immediate implementation of all the decisions handed down by the European Court of Justice in Luxemburg. All except the one handed down on 31 January 2008, declaring that our laws regarding TV are illegal because they allow Rete4 to broadcast on the analogue channels reserved for Europa7 by virtue of the now-infamous 1999 tender for national concessions, which was won by Europa7 and lost by Rete4. Why reject this one while saying yes to all of the other decisions? «Because ¬ explains Minister Emma Bonino – this one was not urgent in nature. If a solution id found, we could perhaps take it into account at some later stage, or in a separate decree ». At some later stage? A separate decree? Meanwhile, the Government is on its last legs and within the next month – if all goes badly – the Berlusconi III government could take hold of the reigns. Are we really going to leave it to him to implement the decision that relegates Rete4 to broadcasting via satellite? What is this, an April fool joke? Just the day before yesterday, in the Sole-24 ore newspaper, Mediaset board member Gina Nieri was laying down the law to the parties. These people have gotten so used to write their own laws that they have lost all sense of shame. «In the Vulgate of the Grillos and Di Pietros of this world ¬said Nieri- Rete4 is illegal and is usurping the frequencies that rightly belong to Europa7. But this is not true, as proven by the laws approved from 2003 onwards». In other words, the decree being used to back-up Rete 4’s claim is the Gasparri Law, introduced by Berlusconi to suit himself, and rejected by the European Court, as was the Maccanico Law of ‘97 and the guiding principle of the Gentiloni Law, because of the never-ending «transition phase », which maintains the status-quo until the introduction of the mythical, or rather Mythological landline digital service. Nieri adds that: «Mediaset has nothing to fear from the Pd and the Pdl’s electoral programmes». In fact, she particularly likes the Pd’s one because «there it does not place a 45% ceiling on advertising». In the final analysis, it would be even more favourable for Mediaset than the already very bland Gentiloni Law (which, just in passing, was never approved).
Here is what Uolter could say, in keeping Di Pietro company: that Berlusconi and his Ginas have not understood anything. The first decree to be promulgated by his Government would have the effect of mowing down the Gasparri Law (thus saving Italy from the already-announced European fine of 300 thousand Euro per day, retroactive from July 2006), as well as freeing RAI from the political parties and their Control, and that he would apply the provisions of the European decision and the two acknowledged decisions of the Consultative Council. In other words, taking away the frequencies from Rete4 and allocating them to Europa7. Who knows, perhaps through some straight talking on TV, we may be able to convince some of the uncertain left-wing voters, and maybe even some of the right wingers."