Lack Of Opposition Or Lack Of Responsibility?

Talking about politics Italy is an unique Country. The Prime Minister builds and re-builds laws that, coincidence, always help him to get rid of some trials. Media and journalism don’t seem to be too shocked about that and they just don’t say a word about the huge clash of interests oppressing the present Italian political life, but, on the contrary, they even praise the Prime Minister “nearing North Korean levels of adulation”, as the Financial Times has recently stated.

In all the Italian political situation what is even more unique is the total lack of opposition. It simply doesn’t exist. Simply.

A part from Antonio Di Pietro (leader of Italia dei Valori) no one from the opposition wing of the Parliament does what he is supposed to do: to oppose.

Walter Veltroni, leader of Partito Democratico, has recently stated that there is no longer alliance with Di Pietro. Questioned by journalists in these days Veltroni and the rest of his Shadows Gang (“Governo Ombra”) insisted on the fact that Italia dei Valori is too aggressive toward the Government and that, at the end, it opposes not to the Government but just to the opposition, PD, itself.

Chensorship is in the Italian blood

It is unbelievable, and yet it is true.

Censorship is part of Italian politics, media and people’s DNA, they rise scandalized and terrify at the first sign of freedom of expression and thought.

On Tuesday in Roma, Piazza Navona, there has been a crowded demonstration against Silvio Berlusconi’s Government and his legislative masterpieces.

Intellectuals, artists, journalists and comedians attended it. The leader of Italia dei Valori Antonio Di Pietro, who strongly supported the demonstration, was the only politician to get on the stage and talk. The Partito Democratico, the other opposition party, was absent and criticized those gathered in that square decided to shout their own indignation against the present actions of the Government, despite there were several PD flags waving in Piazza Navona proof that not all electors share their opinions and political choices.

Walter Veltroni, leader of PD, and his “Shadows-Ministers” decided to demonstrate in Fall. Mr Berlusconi is working really hard to pass every sort of unconstitutional and ad personam law (5 in a month) right now, but the biggest Italian opposition party will demonstrate against it after a couple of months. A tortuous logic.

After the demonstration in Roma, censors from every political front, starting from Walter Veltroni, rose for what had been said on that stage and, above all, for what two comedians had said. Besides Italian media simply forgot or just hinted at the reasons why all those people had gathered in square.

During the last days Italian newspapers whispered and hinted at presumed “strong erotic content” wiretaps between Berlusconi, who was leader of the opposition at the time, and the showgirl Mara Carfagna. According to the newspapers during the phone calls they talked explicitly about oral sex.

The Shadow Of The Italian Journalism

Another proof of freedom of press. Censorship? In Italy? No way.

Italians do not even know what censorship is, or what it means. In fact most citizens take for granted that censorship is the shadow of journalism and journalism the shadow of censorship.

On Saturday evening, guest of the TV show “Che Tempo Che Fa”, the Italian journalist Marco Travaglio did something atrocious and unpardonable, he did his job. He informed.

Result: a ruckus.

Forgetting that in Italy freedom of press and information have been abolished, off-the-record, Travaglio talked about Italian President of the Senate Renato Schifani’s relationship with people sentenced for mafia.