8 May 2008

Vain Hope

I’m publishing a brief statement I made today at the end of the consultation at the Quirinale with the President of the Republic, on the topic of justice.
”If it’s true, as it is true that you can identify a good day first thing in the morning, we will understand already in the next few hours what this government and its President of the Council intend to do when we can see the name of the Minister of Justice. Because by looking at that name we will be able to understand what real space will be given to a commitment related to the fundamental topics why the Centre Right has won the elections giving the Italians to believe that it can do better than us in dealing with justice and security.
If there really turns out to be a clear rethink, and thus solid action in relation to security interventions, Italia dei Valori will give its own contributions in terms of ideas, solutions and support. Naturally, knowing who we are dealing with, first we want to be able to read the documents, to evaluate them and then take action.”

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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6 May 2008

Violence and Political Propaganda

The young man who was beaten up in Verona by a group of neo-Nazis for refusing to give them a cigarette, has died. I offer my condolences to his parents and I hope that those who are guilty will pay for the crimes.
The parties are exploiting his death, it is a right wing death, just as the death of signora Reggiani at the hands of a Roma person was a left wing death.
Violence is becoming an alibi to give direction to public opinion and to create still more new monsters.

The problem of violence is rooted in the non-punishability of most crimes, from a destabilisation of the magistracy that has come about during the government of the last fifteen years.

The magistracy has neither the material nor the legal means to intervene effectively. It’s necessary to get rid of the shameful laws, to simplify and shorten the trial process to reestablish a correct relationship between the citizens and justice.
Perhaps the time has come for the country to start to talk about the reasons for which justice has become not applicable and to ask who are the people responsible for this situation.
The citizens can no longer be taken for a ride. On the one hand there’s a call for security, on the other hand the application of the penalties is made impossible.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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28 April 2008

Between excessive moral goodness and solidarity

I’m publishing an interview that I gave to il Corriere della Sera on the topic of immigration and security. At the end, you will find my articles on the topic, some of which are even very harsh. The election campaign was played out instrumentally on this topic, both for the national elections and for the local elections.

Antonio Di Pietro: An intervention is needed in relation to Romanians. And if Berlusconi is going to do this we will not be ashamed of supporting him.

Cds: Why?
Antonio Di Pietro: It is obvious that for the Centre Left it is easy to say that the view of the Italians has been dimmed. Too much. But it’s not with fears that you search for votes. I hope that after the drunkenness of the Centre Right, the voter will open his eyes. However…

Cds: However?
Antonio Di Pietro: However it is true that between a goody-goody approach and the pretend solidarity we have created an ungovernable situation. And now everyone finds themselves to be justice-alists.

Cds: Berlusconi is announcing measures.
Antonio Di Pietro: And we will support them. That’s always after we have read them.

Cds: Will you vote with the PDL?
Antonio Di Pietro: We will not be ashamed of giving strength to an act that we consider to be self critical: starting from the indiscriminate entry, it’s they who have created the problems. It will be the first action of a constructive opposition.

Cds: What are you hoping for?
Antonio Di Pietro: Filters on entries from Rumania. Sending back all those Rumanians without a fixed address or a job. More funding and personnel for the police and the tribunals to accelerate the trial processes and also for carrying out penalties after the first level of judgement. And above all that there are no tricks.

Cds: Are you afraid there may be some trick-amendments?
Antonio Di Pietro: Yes. Last time they had a measure to lengthen the “time out” for recidivists and they shortened the time for Berlusconi so that they never do the trials for him. But now, given that his troubles are sorted out, perhaps he can resolve them for the Italians.

Previous Articles:
Security for the citizens
Italy, the soft underbelly of the European Union
Moratorium now
Immigration and criminality

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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3 April 2008

I’m a friend of Pino Masciari

I want to launch an appeal, as a citizen and as a representative of Italia dei Valori. I want to launch this appeal in favour of Pino Masciari. Perhaps not all of you know him, but those who follow issues of justice should remember him.
Pino Masciari is a victim of the 'Ndrangheta, because as an entrepreneur, he decided not to suffer the pressures of those who wanted the “pizzo”, and to denounce them. We have important experiences of entrepreneurs who have made this choice: a woman entrepreneur, signora Cordopatri. She too, decided to react to the “pizzo”. She was attacked, she was injured and her brother was killed. We are putting her forward as a candidate in Parliament because we want to move these battles forward. But meanwhile, there’s a dramatic human problem. But also a problem of the judicial police. Pino Masciari, because he performed his duty, is now outside Calabria, because if he goes back they will kill him. He has been away from his territory for some time. He can’t carry on his business activity, living with body guards, living in the north under cover. That has been the situation up until now. But from today he no longer has this possibility
He would like not just the life of a justice witness, so that he is kept in security, and already this is missing for him, but he would like to be able to return to a normal life. For this reason, tired of waiting, he has decided to go back to Calabria and to say “I’m going there to face up to my destiny”.
Italia dei Valori doesn’t want Pino Masciari, or all the other like him, to feel alone. For this reason, it has made some decisions in the field. As well as launching this appeal, it is putting forward as a candidate, a person in the same condition, Teresa Cordopatri. In this way, they too, together with all of us in Parliament, can fight and stand up to this absurdity that makes life intolerable for those who do their duty, while those who go against the law can go into Parliament and make laws to get immunity.

Read also:
Pino Masciari’s Blog
IdV candidates: Teresa Cordopatri
Antonio Di Pietro on Break the mafia

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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28 March 2008

Upside down World

Following my observations about an “ad personam” veto in relation to myself and the position of Minister of Justice, numerous, jumbled, even ridiculous declarations have been made by top politicians, especially from the Centre Left.

I’m publishing an article by Marco Travaglio who comments.



”If in Italy, the Authorities were serious bodies, we would need one to protect words. Against the abuse and the contortions that they suffer, against the dirty market that transforms them in good merchandise for all uses. For example: there’s a discussion about the idea whether or not to appoint Di Pietro as Minister of Justice, after Veltroni told Ms Bignardi that there’s no question of it. Each of us can think what we like, but – possibly - giving the reasons for our thoughts. This is not the case of Polito who said to QN:
“Di Pietro as Minister of Justice in a PD government is unthinkable. It’s like, on the other side, that you were thinking of having Previti as Minister of Justice. Previti and Di Pietro are two extremes in a war between politics and the magistracy, to which the PD is offering to put an end.” Let’s concentrate on the words: “Previti”, “Di Pietro”, “extremes” and “war”.
Previti is a convict, definitively sentenced to 7 and a half years for corrupting judges, having paid certain judges to buy two verdicts: the first got a non-deserved compensation payment of 1,000 billion from the State to friend Rovelli; the second got Mondadori for friend Berlusconi. Di Pietro is a former prosecutor, known for having conducted with some colleagues, the most important anti-corruption investigation in the history of Europe, by convicting 1200 white collar workers and saving the Country from financial and moral bankruptcy.
Di Pietro never dealt with Previti, as he resigned from the pool of judges in December 1994 whereas the “Toghe Sporche” {investigations labeled: Dirty Judicial Garments } started in Summer 1995. In what way would they be “extremes in a war between politics and the magistracy”? Which war? Declared by whom? Fought, won, lost or drawn by whom?

In the United States, the Governor of New York is the former prosecutor Rudolph Giuliani, well known for his investigations into the mafia and the white collar workers of Wall Street (see the film with Michael Douglas), who arrested a great number. Has anyone thought of comparing him to his former defendants, to saying that he is in relation to them at “an extreme in a war between the mafia/high finance and the magistracy”?

Toto would say: “But do me a favour, say what you watch”. On the same topic another thought giant has been exercising, Boselli, the one who uses Jesus for a reference to get De Michelis and Bobo Craxi re-elected: “Di Pietro is the symbol of the justice show. He cannot be the Minister of Justice.

What’s the meaning of “justice show”? Perhaps Di Pietro took part in a TV show during the time of “Mani Pulite”? He was never seen on TV. He never gave interviews to the newspapers (apart from one, very general one to Biagi).

Justice show is appropriate for Cogne, Rignano, Erba, Perugia, and Garlasco, that is the trials celebrated on the TV. Di Pietro ran his trials in the court room. In fact the guilty ones were discovered and sentenced.

Let Boselli say that he doesn’t like Di Pietro because he was responsible for the conviction of his best friends and they are not out yet. But what’s the point in talking about “justice show”? The fact is that, when you talk about justice, those who have no arguments, start off on automatic pilot and give air to the mouth with the usual phrases that have no meaning.

Don Gelmini, on trail for sexual molestation of 10 young women, commented the request of the Temi prosecutor to send him for trial thus: “It is the result of the media tempest that has accompanied the investigation”.

But the investigation was not accompanied by any media tempest, given that we knew something only when the investigation was over. The newspapers wrote about the notoriety of the defendant, and the seriousness of the accusations, but this is crime reporting, not a media tempest. And it cannot be the cause of the investigation, since it came after: it is the effect. "

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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26 March 2008

A clear justice policy

Right now, those of us in Italia dei Valori are not dealing with the issue, nor are we worried about the question of who will take charge of one Ministry rather than another. Veltroni has simply given an indication of what could be possibilities for me.

As regards the policies relating to justice, everyone can accept that Italia dei Valori has been formed from the experience of “Mani Pulite” to indicate a series of precise policies relating to justice, getting rid of the “ad personam” laws, increasing the financial resources relating to security and justice, reduction in the duration of trials, increase in the number of personnel in the justice system, increase in the police forces.
So, why should Italia dei Valori, that has such a clear justice policy, cause fear to anyone, even if it were to take on the role of Minister of Justice?
Berlusconi has already said that just the idea that I, with my past history, could go to the Ministry of Justice is horrifying for him. But I understand him. Once I discovered his activities, and today, if I were to be in that Ministry, as the first action I would deal with the shameful laws that he did so as to avoid his friends getting put on trial. I would pass a law that prevents convicted criminals to be candidates. And thus this would mean that his collaborators, the ones who paid the bribes to the Guardia di Finanza, in relation to checking the taxes of his companies, could not continue to be candidates to Parliamentary seats.
I would deal with this and I invite the citizens to think about and to tackle this way of doing politics for personal interests that this gentleman is carrying on.

I am worried that everything we are doing could be for some of our allies, certainly not for Veltroni, a motive to put obstacles in the path of Italia dei Valori. On the other hand, in the programme of the Democratic Party, we of Italia dei Valori have signed up to a very clear pact that the justice policy of the reformist model, that has Veltroni as the candidate for premier, is and must be something that is completely different from the “ad personam” laws that Berlusconi did.
We believe that action for Italia dei Valori’s justice policy should be if anything put on a pedestal and not squashed with senseless affirmations like those that people have said: “It’s best that Di Pietro doesn’t become Minister of Justice.” I haven’t asked for the position and someone should explain to me why ever should it not be possible.
Certainly not because I don’t know how the machinery of justice functions. Because if I look back to the Ministers who have had that role up until now, perhaps I have had the chance to have a bit more experience than they have had.

Exactly because of my activity as a prosecutor during “Mani Pulite”, it is the moment to say once and for all, loud and clear: the badness in our country is not and has not been the action of “Mani Pulite”, but the action of the bribe-giving, of the embezzlement, of the corruption, of illicit financing, of criminal politics that infested our governing class.
You don’t resolve problems by getting angry with the doctor who discovers an illness, but by attacking the illness and trying to make it weaker. This is what Italia dei Valori wants to do inside Parliament and in the Government in the next legislature.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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25 March 2008

A matter of justice

I’m publishing an interview I gave to the foreign press on the topic of justice.


If you were able to become the Minister of Justice, how would you resolve the many problems of Justice in Italy? The trials that last too long, the prisons that are too few, and the certainty of the penalty?
Antonio Di Pietro: Justice needs ordinary and effective interventions. It doesn’t need meta-judicial discussions that have nothing to do with every day life. In recent years, there have been discussions on major topics like the separation of the career, the role of the CSM, the Italian Legal Order, but I’ll give four points as an indication, of what the justice system needs: A 30% increase in financial resources for the activity of justice, an increase in the personnel assisting the magistrate, both civil and criminal, that today is 30% below strength with reference to the full complement of 20 years ago, even though there’s been an increase in the scope, a regrouping of the tribunals, in which some are overloaded and others have little to do. So as to optimize the work of the magistrates and of the auxiliary personnel; a redefinition of the role and the activity of the personnel of the judicial police, the carabinieri, the police and the Guardia di Finanza above all, so that they can carry out their activity only in relation to judicial and security police work and not with the administrative tasks, like escort or other activities that can be done by other groups. On the level of trials I intend intervening to reduce the duration of trials, first of all by eliminating the law about the reduction of times of “prescrizione”, created by the Berlusconi government with an “ad personam” law. Secondly, by reducing the number of levels of judgement from three to two, by eliminating an appeal phase if in a trial using the adversarial system as opposed to the inquisitorial system. Thirdly, by creating a regulation that interrupts the “prescrizione” with the remand, thus avoiding all the thousands of codicils of the lawyers. On the topic of substance, an important reduction in the types of crime: the so-called trivial offences must be de-criminalized so as to make way for the battle against major criminality.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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24 March 2008

Ad Personam Veto

If the coalition that I’m part of wins the elections, it will have to immediately tackle an issue: “Which Ministry is to be assigned to Antonio Di Pietro? It’s such a serious issue that it has to be debated continuously and without my having put forward any request, both by the Centre Right and the Centre Left. Berlusconi’s party doesn’t want me to become Minister of Justice. This is absolutely understandable for the head of the PDL. In fact my aim is to straight away get rid of the “ad personam” laws and to make the Justice machinery function so that in this country there can be restored the certainty of the penalty and the equality of all citizens before the law.
The vetoes that are arriving from leading lights in the Centre Left are not equally understandable and neither are they acceptable. What does Antonio Di Pietro have to do to become Minister of Justice? What qualities must he have? The last two Ministers were Castelli and Mastella. They have reduced the Justice system to rubble. Neither of them had even a minimum of competence in the matter. However, no one opposed them “a priori”, as is happening for my possible candidacy for the position. “Mani Pulite” still burns for a large part of the political class. Perhaps they fear that I want to finish that work.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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23 March 2008

G8: identify the political masterminds

We of the Italia dei Valori party firmly believe that a number of legal violations occurred on the day of the G8 meeting, each one worse than the next. The first was that of the rioters that, having mingled amongst the legitimate demonstrators and being armed with helmets other weapons of the trade, proceeded to attack the police, businessmen and unarmed citizens. The magistrature is busy clearing up that matter, having already requested that certain individuals be committed for trial, and asking for certain penalties.
Then there was yet another case, namely that of Bolzaneto and Diaz. What occurred were certain behaviours displayed by a number of police officers that proceeded to assault a number of citizens, not for the purposes of legitimate defence, but for the purposes of reprisal, citizens who were not, or who were no longer in any position to commit any offence. This offence is even more serious because it was not committed by just any normal citizen, but by a citizen in uniform and that is precisely for this reason that the magistrature is taking action. As the Italia dei Valori party, we believe that the task of ascertaining the existence of any criminal liability must be left to the magistrature.
However, this matter begs another question. Did these members of the police force that resorted to using violence do so in a moment of sudden madness, or did they do so because they had been stirred up, incited or indoctrinated by a certain political class that wanted to show their iron fist by resorting to the use of posthumous repression? In this regard, precisely who was that person, belonging to the political order in government at that time, that remained inside the barracks while issuing the applicable orders? I believe that it is our duty to instigate a political investigation in the interests of loyalty, clarity and the truth.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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18 March 2008

Justice is the basis of democracy

Angelo Panebianco, the authoritative editorial writer of il Corriere della Sera, has written an article entitled "L'ipoteca giustizialista" {the justicialist mortgage}criticizing the agreement between the PD and IDV.
The crux of Panebianco’s argument can be summarised in his own words: "Di Pietro represents the anti-politics of the judicial-justicialist variant.”, “the proletarian expropriation of certain TV networks”, “give back order in a consensual way to the Italian Justice System”, “pathological developments of our Justice System”, “wild intercepting”, “limit the use of intercepts by the media”.

Panebianco confuses justice with justicialism, laws are made to be applied and politicians are not a separate category. If today the Justice System functions a little or badly, then it is due to the continuous interference from politics by the use of “ad personam” laws and thus the uncertainty of punishment.

To want to limit the use of intercepts by the media that in other words means not publishing them until the trial debate, is equivalent to waiting for years to find out about Fazio, Fiorani, Cuffaro, Berlusconi-Saccà who, in the meantime are safe from the judgement of the general public. The current law allows journalists to publish the intercepts when they are deposited and made available to both those who are investigated and the lawyers. To broadcast the intercepts in these conditions is not a crime, it is providing news. Anything but “wild intercepting”.

Di Pietro and his voters, do not represent a “justicialist variant”, but the wish to apply the laws without taking note of what anyone else is thinking. For example, to start off with the recent European verdict about assigning the frequencies used by Rete 4 to Europa 7, that has arrived after numerous others. Panebianco wants the end of the conflict between the Centre Right and the Centre Left that he claims are the result of justicialists who have had the upper hand for years, in place of dialogue.

There is no dialogue without justice, Dr. Panebianco, without that, only “mess ups” remain.

Dr. Mario Caristo, Honorary General Prosecutor at the Supreme Court of Cassation has sent a letter to Panebianco, with copies to Mieli, to the director of il Corriere della Sera, to myself, to Silvio Berlusconi, to Vittorio Grevi and to Sergio Romano.

I’m attaching the letter from Mario Caristo.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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15 March 2008

The law regarding the statute of limitations

Here is a short interview I gave on 14 March in Taranto on the topic of the statute of limitations.

Journalist: With the ex-Cirielli Law, In Taranto we risk the expiry of the statute of limitations on many important court cases. What do you intend to do about this, should you be a part of the next Government?Antonio Di Pietro: In the first place, in response to a question of this nature, most politicians would give the same answer, namely: “We will work hard to stop this from happening”. Don’t believe them however. Look around and see who actually did anything during the last legislature. We, and very few others were the only ones that fought to stop the pardons and I was the only one that stated that the ex-Cirielli Law needed to be changed, and nobody else. Everyone else was saying that the periods contemplated in the statute of limitations needed to be reduced.
This will be my undertaking as part of the Italia dei Valori party, if you vote me into Parliament, however, what we need are numbers. This is why people must vote, precisely because what is needed are numbers, because there in Parliament, no one gives a damn about this issue. Today they will say one thing, and then proceed to do something totally different. We need numbers.
My concrete undertaking is as follows: to eliminate this law that envisages short periods for the statute of limitations and to replace it with a regulation that makes provision for the absence of any statute of limitations once the person has been committed for trial, in other words, that there will be no expiry date once charges have been laid and court proceedings have begun. Absolution should only occur on the merits, you are either innocent or guilty. It should not happen that the law comes along and says, “we will no longer proceed”, and this before a decision is made regarding guilt or innocence.
This little game, namely fixing a deadline by which, if no decision has yet been made, then no decision will be made at all, has become a tool provided by Berlusconi himself in order to get impunity first, and then the truth.
This will not happen if I come into power.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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27 February 2008

The horror of Justice

Today Silvio Berlusconi spoke these words on "Radio anch'io": "Io ho orrore di Di Pietro e lo dico alto e forte” {I have a horror of Di Pietro and I say that loud and strong}.
What follows is my reply on Corriere.it
Berlusconi reminds me of the story of the fox who when he couldn’t reach the grapes said that they were bitter. Years ago he wanted me to be the Minister of the Interior. Today he doesn’t even want me to be in Parliament.
The truth is simple. He’s afraid that the Italia dei Valori -Partito Democratico combination could win the elections because it is more credible in its men and in its programme, in which we tackle concrete topics instead of denigrating the opposition.
My own fault is to have done “Mani Pulite”. It was the backhanders that were horrible as well as the embezzlement that was happening then and that is happening now, not the magistrates who are doing their duty or those politicians who demand that Parliament makes laws that give back the transparency to politics and to the business world.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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26 February 2008

Paedophilia: draft laws already exist

I’m publishing a communication by Egidio Pedrini, an IdV deputy and secretary to the Communications Committee of the Lower House. It’s about violence towards children.
”Veltroni today spoke out about the issue of paedophilia, a topic on which no one can afford to stop being vigilant. However, I would like Veltroni to take note that last June, motion number 1-00194 was approved by the Lower House that among the commitments of the government set out one to “take every action so that” the United Nations comes to recognise paedophilia as a crime against humanity, and then in July 2007 draft law number 2941 on paedophilia was laid before the House. Mine was the top signature on this document. It increases penalties and makes them more certain for paedophiles and then there is the draft law number 3310 dated December 2007, once again with my signature. This is an addition to the penal code and brings in the law of kidnapping of children. Both draft laws set out the impossibility of the use of “prescrizione” {time out} for the crime of violence against children or the possibility of this starting only at the moment that the victim becomes an adult. These two draft laws are on the website of the Lower House and anyone can follow the progress of their passage through Parliament. On the topic of the fight against paedophilia that relates to the whole of society, it could be possible to ask for a unanimous convergence, even with the Houses not in session, really because paedophiles or those who commit acts of violence against children can strike at any moment.
Pedrini Egidio"

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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31 January 2008

The law is not equal for everyone

With the depenalisation of false accounting approved by Berlusconi and his majority, the conflict of interests emerges in all its seriousness.
If there is no measure to resolve the conflict of interests, there will never be the certainty that those who are in the institutions are performing in the interests of everyone rather than in their own interests. In the specific case of Berlusconi, he was on trial for false accounting but having taken steps to modify the crime, he got away scot free.
We have brought back that crime with a DDL, but meanwhile, for Berlusconi, there’s impunity. It is already very serious that to sort out a personal situation, a law is modified, now to add insult to injury, there’s the really serious damage to the country and for those citizens who have been victims of the people who have committed the same crime and who will not be convicted.

Previous articles:
I’m going straight ahead
Council of Ministers. False Accounting
No throwing in the sponge on Bankrupts
A pardon for those who corrupt

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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30 January 2008

Let the politicians put themselves on trial

I’m publishing an interview I gave to il Corriere della Sera about the possibility of a conviction for Silvio Berlusconi in the judicial proceedings about Mediaset rights.
CdS: Minister Antonio Di Pietro, the President of the Republic is carrying out consultations, there’s the feeling of political elections in the air and they are going back to talking about a trial that sees Silvio Berlusconi as a defendant and how that and the decisions of the magistracy could influence the election campaign.
Antonio Di Pietro: It is significant that everyone is worrying about the prescrizione {time limit to get to the conclusion} of this trial and how to get there as soon as possible. Thanks to the laws approved during the government of the Centre Right this prescrizione will very probably arrive before the trial has ended with the final degree of judgement {the final appeal}.
The basic problem for the country is another one: do we want to have a President of the Council, if Berlusconi were to get there, getting the prescrizione for the umpteenth time or that it is ascertained that he has not committed crimes? No one, even more so the magistracy, could have thought of the collapse of the Prodi government when there was a request for the unification of the two trials.
CdS: From Berlusconi’s lawyers, from Forza Italia and from other political environments however, this is what they are talking about.
Antonio Di Pietro:It is not the work of the magistracy to place conditions on the elections, on the other hand, the elections are an element of disturbance for the trial. It would be good that all those who now are gathering round Berlusconi ask that these two trials come to an end as soon as possible, within a few months and before the election campaign gets lively, so that his full innocence can be verified. And the defendant can be cleared of any shadow of suspicion.
And then, how is it possible to talk about political intervention when we are still in a state of pre-crisis and we still don’t know if there will be an election campaign and elections?
CdS: Is it like saying there’s so much fuss about nothing?
Antonio Di Pietro:So, I repeat, let Berlusconi let himself be tried. It is not even a good thing for him that there are ongoing trials.
I believe that the time has come for the Italian citizens to rebel against this distorted and conditioned information. That they open their eyes and that they ask if the blame for all this is down to the magistracy or to those who commit the actions that the magistrates are then obliged to take an interest in.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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29 January 2008

Town of Vittoria: no to protection money

I’m publishing two interviews dedicated to the fight against the mafia.
The first interview is with Leoluca Orlando, an Italia dei Valori deputy who for some time has been committed to the fight against the racket and the mafia in Sicily. The second interview is with Giuseppe Nicosia, the mayor of Vittoria in the province of Ragusa, who has decided to give exemptions and facilitation to those who denounce the pizzo { protection money} and the racket.
In the past, I have talked about certain measures (The pizzo and the Confindustria) with a measure of perplexity. That is not to say that the action of these people doesn’t represent a breaking point with the old system of connivance between organised criminality and politics.

"For the fourth time, in the Sicilian reality, the police and the security forces, with an action that deserves praise, have discovered those who were paying the pizzo: the list of economic and commercial businesses obliged to pay the pizzo to the mafia people. It is the conformation that the mafia has not stopped but is continuing, the confirmation that there’s need to continue in this action of repression, being carried out by the magistracy and the security forces, but also that it is necessary to bring in measures that will help this work of the security forces.

In a land like ours, in which the President of a Region, convicted and sentenced to 5 years with the prohibition of holding public office for having helped mafia bosses, has the arrogance to want to stay put and celebrate with little pasties, there’s also a Confindustria Sicilia that says: “those entrepreneurs who have any relationship with the mafia cannot be part of our organisation”

There’s a civil society that tries to rebel, there’s Addiopizzo, there are business people who courageously publish names, there are citizens who declare that they will shop only with entrepreneurs who declare themselves to be against protection money and who collaborate with the police to uncover the extortionists.”

Read the whole text.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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27 January 2008

“Ammazzateci Tutti” replies

I’m publishing a letter from Aldo Pecora, Sonia Alfano and Rosanna Scopelliti of the campaign group “Ammazzateci Tutti”. This is a reply to a post called "Appeal from a citizen" published on my blog on 24 January.

Distinguished Honourable Di Pietro,
We have been told by our web observers that there was a recent intervention by Ida Annamaria Rotella, Court Clerk to the Catanzaro Tribunal..
While we appreciate the spirit that inspires signora Rotella and that is very evident from the letter that you published on your blog yesterday, we feel obliged to reply to the legitimate requests that your reader puts forward that relate directly to us as a campaign group.
As you will know and as is known by the few “real” associations in Calabria that have come together in the “Pro De Magistris” campaign group, as is known by the young men and women of the Beppe Grillo Meetup, as is known also by many activists in your party, in the last few months we have acted all together to promote support for the prosecutor Luigi De Magistris, by collecting tens of thousands of elements of support in terms of signatures and of people, many of whom are young people, who have come out into the streets of Calabria and who have filled every type of place in auditoriums, cinemas, and theatres in half of Italy (it’s enough just to think of the initiative “Break the Mafia” at the Teatro Carcano in Milan, at which even you yourself were present in person.)”

Read the whole text

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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Legality in Sicily

Today, 26 January, Cuffaro announced his irrevocable resignation from his post as Premier of the Sicily Region, not as a result of personal choice, but rather to prevent a legal provision from obliging him to resign.
Cuffaro is simply pre-empting a decision dictated by the regulations currently in force, as I laid out in detail in my letter, sent to Premier Prodi and ministers Lanzillotta and Amato a few days ago.
Cuffaro’s resignation is, therefore, much more than simply an ethical and moral act. The serious conviction described and the reasons for the sentence handed down leave no room for any doubt whatsoever. Resignation was, and is the only way to go.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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26 January 2008

The Minister of Justice’s appointments

I have sent a letter to Prime Minister and Justice Minister Romano Prodi, expressing my concerns regarding Benvenuto’s recent appointment by the Management Committee of the School of the Magistrature. Appointments made by former Justice Minister Mastella as one of the last few acts in office.

I now publish the text of the letter:

"A number of issues that have emerged recently with regard to the Justice Minister’s activities have raised some serious concerns.
I am referring to the delicate appointments of the members of the Management Committee of the School of the Magistrature, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Justice Minister.
Already in the past, while discussing the amendments to the institutional regulations governing the school, I repeatedly raised the alarm – which went unheard – regarding the risks concealed behind the regulatory amendments so tenaciously supported by the Justice Minister at the time, and highlighted the risk of potentially influencing the autonomy of the Judiciary. When even the training institution charged with developing the future generation of magistrates and updating the entire profession is not only unexpectedly based within the very same electoral college preferred by the Minister of Justice in power, but sees its Management committee dominated, in terms of numbers, by members appointed directly by the very same Minister, it becomes clearly evident, beyond any doubt, that there is a certain manipulation of intangible constitutional precepts at play."


Read the full text

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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24 January 2008

Appeal from a citizen

I’m publishing a letter from Ida Annamaria Rotella, Court Clerk to the Catanzaro Prosecutor’s Office. It is a heart-felt appeal to all the social groupings, to a part of the political scene and to the free information organisations not to forget what is happening to the magistrate Luigi De Magistris
I and Italia dei Valori have always supported and we will continue to support the activity of the magistrate which is aimed at the respect of the rule of law.
”Respected Dr. Di Pietro, I am a Court Clerk to the Catanzaro Prosecutor’s Office, the office that is by now famous because it is the office of Dr. De Magistris
I thank you for having been the only politician who has publicly supported Dr. De Magistris. I believe that the heart of a Magistrate has still remained inside you.
In my office, I am one of the few people who is morally close to this Magistrate but after the response of the CSM that has arranged for his forthcoming transfer, I have had the feeling that he has been abandoned by the public and that he is only supported in an undertone.
Where is the popular indignation? Where are the young people of "Adesso ammazzateci tutti” {Now Kill all of us}? Where are the “dissident” journalists who created “the issue” in the Media?
In this last month when Dr. De Magistris can appeal, it would be appropriate to have a solid and public movement of support for the Magistrate, even more substantial than that of last Autumn, so as to attempt to prevent the putting into effect of the unjust decision by the CSM.
Justice seems to be in a “coma”. For example, my office is “drowning” for a thousand reasons. No one is listening to us and Calabria is even more on its knees.
Why has Italia dei Valori not yet started to take action? Perhaps we are waiting to go out and demonstrate and shout “JUSTICE FOR DE MAGISTRIS" at the railway station when this Magistrate takes his leave for ever?
Thanks and warm greetings
Ida Annamaria Rotella"
Previous articles:
Antonio Di Pietro a Break The Mafia
Magistratura indipendente dalla politica (www.italiadeivalori.it)

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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Letter to Prodi

I am publishing a letter sent today to the President of the Council and Minister of Justice, Romano Prodi with copies to the Minister of the Interior and the Minister for Regional Affairs.
The topic of the letter is the suspension of Honourable Salvatore Cuffaro from holding the office of the President of the Region of Sicily.

The text of the letter:


As you know, on 18 January, the Palermo Tribunal pronounced judgement and convicted the President of the Region of Sicily for helping the mafia and revealing secrets.
The facts that have been verified by this trial have emerged and are extremely serious. This is seen not just from the important sentence handed out (five years in prison and perpetual prohibition to hold public office) but above all in as much as it is a question of helping the mafia and revealing official secrets in relation to investigations regarding mafia affiliates. I am keen to underline two considerations about this.
Firstly, the agreement on the modality for intervention in the affair, specifically applying what is already obligatory according to the regulations in force. In fact, in relation to this, article 15, comma 4-bis of law number 55 dated 19 March 1990 sets out the need for suspension, even in the case of a conviction which is not definitive.
As is well known, the institutional route to take is for the President of the Council, having listened to the Minister for Regional Affairs and the Minister of the Interior, adopts the measure that ensures the suspension.
For facts that are clearly serious, this outcome comes from the need to guarantee the protection of the public interest, which has been damaged by his staying in his position and carrying out the related institutional functions by a person for whom it has been verified that he does not have the essential requisites to hold an elected public office. But, above all, it is urgent that I put forward a second consideration.
As a Minister of the Republic and above all as a citizen, I am disconcerted by the reaction that has been the characteristic of the behaviour of the President of the Region of Sicily with respect to the conviction and that for anyone with dignity and respect towards the institutions should have only suggested the need to offer his resignation.
I believe that the Government cannot remain inert in relation to this affair and that it is indispensable to take concrete measures, in conformity with what is laid down by the regulations, so as to ensure the primacy of law and the full respect of the principles of the rule of law, and in this way, restoring credibility and the authoritativeness of the institutions of the State.
It is a question of an action that is imposed by duty for the respect that we all owe to the institution and the law. But even before that, for the moral debt that we have to make good for the many, too many, victims of the mafia and their close family.
Never as in this affair, is there the need to act and to act fast and it is the duty-bound form of fulfilling the requirements of the law that must distinguish a governing class that is worthy of this name, from one that is hypocritical and mean. I am convinced that you are not deaf to these needs, and in a manner that we agree on we will be able to express the response that is the most convinced and worthy of respect for anyone that has preferred to sacrifice themselves to the mafia rather than reveal official secrets to them.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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18 January 2008

No to the vote market

I would like to tell you exactly what I think regarding the Mastella case, Campania politics and much more still.
At the time of the First Republic, in order to finance its activities, politics resorted to using a system of bribery, in other words, illicit funding paid either to the parties or directly to the politicians themselves. In exchange, favours were handed out, such as for example, the awarding of tenders, favourable jobs and high-powered appointments, especially in the business environment. However, there was at least one thing wrong with this system, in that it was not always the best companies that were awarded the tenders and the parties, having funds at their disposal, were in a position to achieve greater electoral success, even though their policies were no better than those of the other parties.
During the time of the Second Republic, namely the one following the so-called “Tangentopoli” corruption scandal, the system was further refined. Crimes were no longer committed, however, the power was physically obtained by directly taking power in the public offices and various administration bodies and doling out positions and roles to cronies and friends, so that these people could then control the so-called vote market.
Bribes are no longer paid systematically as they were at one time because, if these bribes were intended at the time, to be used to finance the party, while now, by placing the right people in the right posts, they would then be able to convince all the employees that act and interact with these “right people” (chairmen of the various divisions of ASL, heads of public offices, and so on) to vote for the party that they represent. And here, therefore, we make assumptions galore.
Consider the matter of waste disposal in Campania, which has the highest number of street sweepers, as well as the highest level of dirt.
In situations such as this, the problem is not so much a judicial one. Personally, I find it very difficult to believe that Mrs. Mastella could have put the fear of God into Bassolino, but rather, I believe that, in a case of exchange of secret roles (“many places for me” complained the Udeur, many places for the Democratic Party and many places for yet another party), they became angry with each other, however, to get from here to something which is criminally significant is something that is difficult to prove.
The question we must ask ourselves is not whether Mastella, Bassolini or anyone else is guilty or innocent in a criminal sense, since this would be up to a judge to decide, but whether or not the time has come to stop playing politics by seeking consensus via the vote market, by carving up, by practicing nepotism, using family ties or practicing clientism, and whether politics is once again to become a service or whether it is to remain an opportunity for power grabbing, in this case via the vote market.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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The only ones for the Rule of Law

I’m publishing the intervention made by Massimo Donadi, the Leader of Italia dei Valori in the Lower House. The transcription of the speech has been taken from the records typed up in the Lower House. The speech was applauded only by people of Italia dei Valori.
In this whole affair what is disconcerting is recognizing that Italia dei Valori (and a few other deputies) are isolated in the defence of the Magistracy and of the Rule of Law.
"Signor President, signor President of the Council, we appreciated it when, in your speech, you called for the autonomy and the independence of the magistracy. However, signor President of the Council, we believe that governing means, always and above all, to take on to the full, the responsibility to give solid responses to the needs of the Country. Well, we believe that today the Country needs to know from the President of the Council whether or not it is true that in this country there are fringes of the magistracy who try to knock down their political adversaries (Applause from the deputies of the Italia dei Valori group). The Country needs to know whether…”

Read the whole text

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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16 January 2008

Mastella’s resignation

photo from repubblica.it
I am expressing my human understanding for the affair that relates to the wife of Minister Mastella. It is equally to be appreciated the sense of responsibility and the institutional correctness that led the Minister of Justice to announce to Parliament his resignation. It is a gesture that we are sure will contribute to keeping the atmosphere calm and it will keep the field clear of base instrumentalisation.
Having said that, we of Italia dei Valori cannot but keep our distance from the words pronounced by the Minister, when he talked about clockwork justice, about judges who try to bring down their political foes, or of magistrates who take hostages. We have not tolerated these words when others have used this type of discourse and we cannot accept them now, if we are to be coherent, from the one who is currently the Minister of Justice, even because, when you think this of the Italian Magistracy, it becomes difficult for you to carry out with the necessary balance, a role that is as sensitive as that of Minister of Justice.
Finally, I repeat, even on this occasion, the concept according to which when you have an issue with the system of justice, you have to defend yourself inside the tribunal and not outside.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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14 January 2008

Fight against the racketeering

Here is a letter from Leoluca Orlando, National Spokesman for the “Italia dei Valori” party, regarding the draft bill concerning the fight against racketeering.


"Dear Mr. President,
As you well know, we have prepared a draft bill concerning the fight against the phenomenon of extortion and to provide support for the victims, namely, the small businessmen.
This proposal, of which I hereby attach another copy, will have to be discussed with the political parties and the applicable associations, and has already constituted a significant part of the daily meeting of the majority, held at Palazzo Chigi, on the subject of economic development and social equality.
Politicians must decisively support the fight against racketeering and organised crime, which is obtaining some good results, even by means of organic legislative provisions.
Even after the judicial inquiries and the operations carried out by the forces of law and order, and following important initiatives undertaken by public associations and the firm stand taken by Confindustria and other organisations, politicians have not yet made themselves heard.
We cannot allow politics to stand by and appear to be almost embarrassed in admitting that the phenomenon of extortion has spread to many businesses in our country. This phenomenon continues to become more widespread throughout the country and poses a risk to all of the country’s businessmen.
It is unacceptable for politics to entrust the outcome of this type of social drama to the actions of the judiciary, albeit meritorious, or to limit itself to applauding the actions of individual or groups of businessmen. It is for this very reason that we wish to make it legally worthwhile to collaborate in the fight against extortion.
Extortion is fast becoming a veritable “criminal tax”, which must be fought by offering a range of benefits and concessions to those who provide “useful collaboration” in terms of identifying the extortionists and proving their guilt. The proposal in fact envisages significant tax and contribution concessions, as well as full cover against any damage suffered, and State guarantees n order to obtain the necessary credit following criminal damages.
The beneficiaries would be entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, artisans and independent professionals enrolled in the legally sanctioned professional registers, employing less than 15 people or with an annual turnover of less than one million Euro. These are businesses that constitute a significant part of our economic system, namely, the small to medium-size businesses that are mostly exposed and unprotected against the phenomenon of extortion.
The proposal is envisaged to remain valid for a period of one year, after which, time extensions and amendments may be considered in the light of the experience gained and the results achieved.
This is another example of the “Italia dei Valori” party’s contribution to the consolidation of an ethic of responsibility, both individual and collective, a contribution that is not only necessary, but also worthwhile.
In this regard, the proposal envisages the strengthening of existing security systems, including video surveillance, and the strengthening of the police presence on the ground. Amongst the associated potential penalties, the legislation also provides for the possibility of suspending the trading or professional activities of anyone who fails to collaborate, or who fraudulently abuses the legal provisions, for a period ranging from three months to one year.
It is important for us to receive all comments and amendment proposals in order to arrive at a final text.
Kindest regards
Leoluca Orlando"

Download the document

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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27 December 2007

Pardon or justice?

The State President has received a request for pardon from Giuseppe Lipera, attorney for Bruno Contrada, the former manager of Sisde who was finally sentenced to ten years for collusion with the mafia. The request was motivated by Contrada’s current state of health.

An unacceptable request, as highlighted by the Head of State himself, who deemed it necessary to explain that: “It is a well known fact that any provision concerning a deferment of a penalty, based on the state of health of the person paying such penalty in prison, falls within the jurisdiction of the overseeing Magistrature”. Bruno Contrada has, to date, only served seven months of his jail sentence at Santa Maria Capua Vetere and, given that a pardon and the man’s state of health are two entirely different matters, should the competent magistrature see fit, the necessary measures could be taken for Contrada to be admitted to hospital. Pardon for a State Official who has been sentenced for mafia activities cannot be construed as “something due” to him, as stated by the Justice Minister, since there are no grounds for such pardon, and the man himself has not expressed any regret whatsoever, nor has he collaborated fully with the magistrature.
Court sentences must be respected and Contrada’s age does not constitute sufficient justification for making him out to be a victim.
Should the family wish to do so, they can request a review of the proceedings, but a pardon cannot be used as a short cut in order to escape a conviction for collusion with the mafia.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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21 December 2007

Safety now!

Here is the text of an interview I gave the “Il Giornale” on Wednesday 19 December 2007.
Antonio Di Pietro: If it were up to me, I would get rid of that regulation, which is muddled and badly drafted, and simply carry on with the Decree.
Il Giornale: Why, in your opinion, was it necessary to forge ahead?
Antonio Di Pietro: In this Country, we need safety as much as we need bread and water and, as regards interventions, the need is even more urgent. That is why we have made provision by means of decree.
Il Giornale: But a split has occurred regarding the article on homophobia …
Antonio Di Pietro: For political reasons, which are by the way unacceptable. However, that article has nothing to do with safety, “non c’azzecca niente” as the old Di Pietro would have said. It is clearly being pushed by one part of the coalition, in order to infiltrate a different problem, relating to conscience and culture, into the issue of safety, which affects the Country as a whole.
Il Giornale: So you are against the withdrawal of the decree?
Antonio Di Pietro: I believe that it would be unseemly, untimely and nonsensical to give up on dealing with the issue of safety by decree. I believe that the government urgently needs to do two things: acknowledge that the regulation does nothing in terms of safety, and accept responsibility by not going on any Christmas Break, because there are still a number of working days left between Christmas and New Year to ensure that the decree is not allowed to expire. We should approach the Senate vote with dignity and heads held high, backing up against the wall anyone who intends to exploit their vote in order to achieve some something other than safety.
Il Giornale: Are you saying that Prodi should dig in his heels, remove that article and carry on?
Antonio Di Pietro: Definitely yes, because we still have a few days in hand, and the real reason why we are doing it is for fear that some hothead in the Senate will say “then I won’t vote for it”. But this is blackmail, political-ideological blackmail, by someone who is seeking to obtain some competitive advantage, notwithstanding the urgency of the need to address the safety issue.
Il Giornale: Off the record, how do you feel about the provision on homophobia?
Antonio Di Pietro: I believe that the principle, which states that there must be no discrimination, and that anyone who discriminates on the basis of race, religion or sexual orientation should be punished, is not only right, but is also contained in the declaration of human rights. However, that regulation, as it stands, is so ambiguous and broad that we may land up paradoxically punishing the priest who, in his sermon, urges his parishioners to behave in a certain way with regard to sex. Such a regulation should be drafted with a certain sense of responsibility, not by urgent decree, and must make a clear distinction between discriminatory acts, which should be severely punished, and mere opinions, which simply constitute part of our right to freedom of thought.
Il Giornale: Why is Prodi not prepared to risk it?
Antonio Di Pietro: How else could he answer me? Unfortunately, it is impossible for him to accept only my assessment alone. And I, according to the institutions, have learned that the rules of coalition impose a duty on members to take one step at a time. The problem is not the Prime Minister, but rather the irresponsibility of those who are constantly trying to profit from every situation. This, however, once again raises the age-old problem, namely, the ability of such a scanty majority to govern the Country. We of the “Italia dei Valori” Party say that it can be done, as long as there is some sense of belonging to a coalition. A sense of belonging that is, today, ever decreasing and becoming increasingly threadbare, revealing a situation where everyone behaves like rats abandoning a sinking ship in search of their own survival.



Today, Friday 21 December, at around 15h00, I will be appearing on my own Blog and on the Italia dei Valori website in live streaming. I will be discussing the year’s work, important upcoming appointments and the initiatives scheduled for 2008.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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9 December 2007

Greater investment in security

The police forces are complaining because they have not been allocated sufficient funds in the latest Budget. Let me say immediately that it is not true that there are no funds allocated for this purpose, but certainly the allocation that there is, is inadequate, a fact that we should be aware of because, after all, we all make use of public areas at some or other time.
This Budget makes more funds available for the modernisation of vehicles and for staffing purposes than what was the case last year, where 7 billion 334 million was allocated for this purpose, while this year’s budget, instead, allocates 7 billion 550 million. This proves that there has been an increase of 200 million, and not a reduction, as is being claimed. The problem remains that this is not enough.
What are the three main areas requiring our effort, in terms of what the forces of law and order have asked for so that they can work better? They ask that the funds available to the police stations be increased so that they may purchase more fuel for their vehicles, more paper on which to write, and for the purchase of everyday items that the need.
They ask to be allowed to recruit more staff. There are 6000 vacant posts that must be filled.
Finally, they ask that their training facilities be increased and expanded. There were, at one time, 12 such facilities, which have been reduced to only 3. From the point of efficiency, this would appear to have been a good idea, on condition that these 3 facilities produce the same level of results as the original 12 did.
Our forces of law and order are not asking for too much and, with certain appropriate cuts and rationalisations, we can grant these requests: this is our aim.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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5 December 2007

The disappearing court cases

The most striking thing about the issues surrounding the cases involving magistrates Luigi De Magistris and Clementina Forleo, is that the investigations that the two were conducting have been completely hidden from sight. No one any longer mentions Why Not and Unipol. We have gone far beyond the metaphor of the finger pointing at the moon. In this case they have caused the moon to disappear completely, leaving only the finger for us to look at.
As always, I have the greatest respect for the decisions made by the various organs of justice, but I also have a legitimate suspicion that there may be some sort of political influence hiding behind the fury unleashed against the two troublesome magistrates. The problem is no longer simply a judicial one, but has become, above all, a political one. The public is no longer interested in knowing from the judiciary whether any politicians are guilty of any crimes, but now, as far as the public is concerned, the simple fact of the removal of the magistrates that were busy investigating the politicians is, in itself, proof of the politicians’ guilt, as well as the umpteenth confirmation that different rules are applied to the elected as opposed to the electorate. The public opinion is now convinced that elected leaders are completely exempt from prosecution.
We must be honest in admitting that the handling of the De Magistris and Forleo cases, although perhaps unquestionable from an official point of view, nevertheless constitutes a serious defeat for which we will be obliged to bear the consequences.

Posted by Antonio Di Pietro in Justice
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4 December 2007

Security for the citizens

When we talk about security, we must start with the statistics, referring to the type and number of crimes committed and also the people who committed them, including their nationality.

The increase in certain types of crime, and the consequent perceived insecurity, is closely linked to illegal immigration, but not only, also to the normal immigration of European Union citizens. It is a known fact that, whether we like it or not, during the three-year period stretching from 2004 to 2006, the top foreign nation in terms of the number of cases of voluntary homicide, sexual assault, theft, robbery and extortion was Rumania, from where there is no illegal immigration. It is immigration nevertheless, within the European Union and perfectly legal, into our Country, at least, and it is legal simply because it is totally uncontrolled as a result of the Rumanians’ right to enter all member Countries of the European Union after becoming EU citizens.
It is a fact, because we immediately tend to think of non-EU citizens and illegal immigrants, while the major cause of insecurity, both real and perceived, is instead due to EU citizenship.

If this is a fact, the goodwill of a united Europe, which we read about all every day at school, serves no purpose.
Therefore, as regards this topic, I wish to point the first accusing finger at myself as a member of this Government, and I confess that, as a political force, I am powerless to change the current state of affairs. I must say, in all fairness, that not even the opposition parties in the previous Government made their voices heard because, if it is true that since January 2007 we have had an influx of Rumanians, it is, above all, also very true that this was allowed to happen because, in previous years, while we were busy with the process of ratifying the applicable agreements, we failed to regulate the entry of the Rumanians, not even by means of a moratorium. The politically accountable parties are, therefore, the past and present political class.

I need to remind myself, as well as the politicians and everyone else, that if it is true that security is a right, such right is guaranteed by the European Union agreements, as well as by the European Treaty that set up the EU, reconfirmed by the C6 in Poland where, in the basic precepts of the resulting document, it is stipulated that security, both inside and outside the EU, is one of the EU’s own fundamental rights.
If the constitutional bill that we want is constituted by the treaty that we confirmed at the C6 meeting held in Poland, then we are told that internal security is a fundamental right, which then imposes a duty to consider the regulation of people’s movements, even with reference to EU member states.

The “Italia dei Valori” Party must re-establish its governmental and information activities, specifically as regards the need to establish some sort of regulation and possibly including a moratorium, which would be applicable to those citizens who, although they have come into the EU, must nevertheless comply with the rules and requirements of our Country.
As regards this latest phenomenon, there is a need for new and updated tools with which to combat criminality, Islamic fundamentalism and both national and international crime, with specific reference to the new criminal elements.

Without a doubt, a number of important actions have been taken in terms of immigration, beginning with the fact that the Bossi-Fini Law would not be suitable as it stands, because it requires the person to be in possession of an employment contract prior to leaving his/her Country of origin, otherwise he/she would not be allowed to enter Italy. I challenge any Italian to enter into an employment contract with a person from wherever, without even knowing the person. We then have the Turco-Ferrero Law, which applies a totally different approach, based on immigration flows, based on the person’s ability to find employment, even via a tutor, and based on a whole range of interventions aimed at getting to know others and allowing ourselves to become known.

This has certainly not resolved the problem of illegal immigration, however, I believe that I must personally accept responsibility, as must the entire “Italia dei Valori” Party, for having signed the Turco-Ferrero Law because, at the time, we thought it better than the Bossi-Fini Law and because it attempted to counteract illegal immigration, but above all because it provided some hope of legal immigration.
As regards the Turco-Ferrero Law, it is our belief that it must be agreed and expanded as regards the security measures it contains, with specific reference to those that have no fixed address and have no way of proving that they have any means of support.
There is a need for some sort of a moratorium, regarding even EU member Countries whose citizens come to Italy without being able to show how they propose to survive and support themselves. This is not because we believe that our Country is any different from other countries, but because other EU member Countries have done precisely what we are now requesting, countries such as Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Luxemburg and Holland, who are members of the EU, yet