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It is disconcerting that having strong evidence in hand in Italy nobody, a part from a couple of journalists who mostly writes books and have blogs, talks or writes about who really is Silvio Berlusconi, the head of the Italian Government.
It is disconcerting that people voted and still vote for him, blind or preferring being blind to who he is and how he is using political power for himself.
It is even more disconcerting that the opposition don’t talk about it everyday. Are they afraid that they might win elections if they do? Mr Veltroni and fellows “shadow-statesmen” what were you thinking about during the electoral campaign? And what are you thinking about now?
Here is a very good report (dated 2003) by Wide Angle (WNET New York network) about Berlusconi. What has it changed now, after five years? Nothing.
In Italy Bruno Vespa is considered an important and accredited journalist by many. He has been editor of the TV news “TG1″ (Rai1) for three years and since 1996 he is the host of one the main Italian political talk show “Porta a Porta” (Rai1).
In 1992 when he was editor of TG1 he stated that his reference publisher was Democrazia Cristiana, the party that dominated Italian politics for over fifty years. DC collapsed in 1994 as consequence of Mani Pulite investigation that disclosed a huge corruption at every political level. After the fall of the party many members of DC joined Forza Italia (Silvio Berlusconi’s) so that FI became the party with more Christian Democrats inside.
Owing to his statement Vespa was criticized and accused to use information and journalism for the interest and advantage of political parties and political power.
This critic has been and it still is very recurring in Vespa’s professional life. He is often accused to be too obliging towards political leaders, especially Silvio Berlusconi, and political power. Comedian Beppe Grillo said about him:“Bruno Vespa is a damage for the Country, for free information and for economy”.
In May 2005 he has been wiretapped while speaking to Salvatore Sottile, present President of the Chamber of Deputies’ spokesman. In that wiretap Vespa assured Sottile that he would have done a “made to measure-installment” for Gianfranco Fini (Foreign Minister and leader of Alleanza Nazionale at that time).
The 15th of January George Ratzinger, Pope’s elder brother, will turn 85. George decided to party his birthday in the Sistine Chapel (Vaticano) with a Mozart’s concert. According to the German press the party will cost 100.000 euro.
In spite of the economic crisis the Episcopate of Ratisbona will pay 100.000 euro to permit to 90 musicians from Germany and to 37 musicians from Austria to fly to Roma to play at the birthday concert.
In Germany this story aroused bitter controversy since the ammount should come from the money that German catholics assign, thanks to taxes, to the Church.
Happy birthday and enjoy the party then!
Source: El Pais
Comic Strip by Giulio Laurenzi
Silvio Berlusconi, some days ago, at a dinner at the White House
Berlusconi: “Questo è ciò che può fare il troppo amore” “This is what too much love can do!”
That’s Amore!
No sex, no science, I’m the Pope!
Last time I’ve checked the calendar it was 2008, but according to what Pope Benedetto XVI has recently stated about sex and science it seems that we still live in the XII century.
Some days ago the elderly man with the nicest pair of red shoes (even Dorothy of Oz would envy them) stated that researchers are tempted by “easy money”.
These words against science and scientific research have a heavy meaning since in Italy students, teachers, professors and researchers are protesting and are on strike against a reform that will drastically cut the budget for school, university and research.
Just looking at Spain we can see that Pope Benedetto’s personal opinions and declarations don’t Countries with a fully-developed democracy, where state and Church are two distinct entities dealing with distinct matters. But since Italy is a Country where every politician competes to show to be the “most papal” and most Catholic and where division of State and Church seems to be forgotten, this old man’s assertions influence and weigh on political decisions and Italian politics. Strongly supporting or opposing some political choices instead of others the Pope backs, indirectly, alliances and political parties.
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