29 June 2008

Government pimp

A while ago now, I talked to the press in no half measures about the tapped telephone conversations between Berlusconi and Saccà, when I described this political class as acting more like a bunch of pimps, intent on finding places for dancing girls, at the taxpayers’ expense, rather than dealing with their own problems.
I also believe that, given the recent developments, the Prime Minister would make far less of an effort and take far fewer risks were he making such shady deals involving his own television stations rather than the public television broadcaster.
The problem is the same as it has always been, namely, the use of public roles to manage private affairs. Proof of this is that, in order to win the elections, Berlusconi and Bossi exploited the public’s fear about illegal immigration, blowing it out of all proportion. Suddenly, and with unseemly haste, illegal immigration becomes a crime. Europe condemns the move but the Government ignores this condemnation. After all, the path towards benign dictatorship has already been taken. The Government ignored Europe’s objections regarding the Alitalia bridging loan, just like they ignored the European decision regarding the illegal occupation of broadcasting frequencies by Rete 4, and nothing will stop them from carrying on in the same vein when it comes to illegal immigration.
Immediately after the media-created illusion dished up to the electorate in all the news broadcasts and newspapers, now comes Berlusconi’s personal counterattack. Just a few days ago in fact, while the Lega were beating their collective chests in pride at having delivered on their election promises, in Government the same party was obliged to turn its back on the very same voters. In fact, the same anti-prosecution law that will block all judicial corruption charges and thereby protect Berlusconi for the next year from certain developments in the Mills case, which could make life rather uncomfortable for Berlusconi, will also prevent illegal immigration being classified as a crime. However, the citizen subjects do not “need to know” anything about this minor “detail” and so, the usual media blackout in the newspapers and “free” television stations once again descends upon the country.
All in all, the anti-prosecution law is convenient for both the left wing and the right wing, and perhaps, we of the Italia dei Valori party are the only ones that don’t want it, since we are part of the opposition. The only opposition, if the truth be told.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice