Old Tricks

June 18, 2008 · Filed Under Italian news · Comment 

Berlusconi is up to his old tricks once more, and the stability of the current Italian government means he can do just about what he likes.

In his latest ‘furbo‘ move, and on the pretext of reducing the admittedly snails pace sloth of the Italian courts, the Berlusconi government is trying to introduce a piece of legislation, mixed in with new public order laws, that will put a temporary hold on certain long running trials. Read more about this on the BBC’s website - Italian PM defends trials freeze.

Now, it just so happens that one of these long running trials involves the B man himself. What a coincidence! I’m sure he never thought of that. Er, not.

When it was put to the tanned one that this amendment appeared to be covering his own back, the usual accusations were throw at his accusers, in that he claimed that he has to do something to protect himself from those nasty commie magistrates who have been gunning for him for such a long time. Its tough being a billionaire in Italy.

All the twists and contorted turns going on in the Living Museum at the moment are likely to produce some topsy turvy results.

On one hand, those caught mugging grannies or pinching car radios are likely end up being shot by some over enthusiastic Italian grunt put on the streets to maintain the peace by Italy’s defence minister. Whereas, on the other hand, those involved in white collar skulduggery will probably be encouraged to continue their dodgy dealings on the grounds that the long arm of Italian law is being trimmed to such an extent that it will shortly be unable to reach out and poke them.

There is also talk of resurrecting a proposed law that will grant immunity from prosecution to those who hold high public office in Italy. More back protecting?

All the above hints that Italy may well become something of a haven for white collar crime.

Do your dodgy dealings in Italy, stash the cash in the Cayman Islands, and then soak up the sun on your mega yacht in the seas around Bermuda.

Could be an idea for the promotion of a new form of tourism in Italy, could it not?! I can see the ads now: “Come to sunny Italy. Enjoy the food, the wine and the opportunities for benefiting from illicit business practices.” You can even set up those interesting deals via your trusty mobile phone, for in Italy, soon nobody will be allowed to listen in.

By gum, Italy is a fun place.

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Further to my previous post…

January 16, 2008 · Filed Under Life in Italy · 4 Comments 

…my, Italian, other half has clarified the magistrates versus politicians thing, I am, almost, pleased to say.

Apparently, the non-political magistrates are, in reality, political. This means that there are those who like Mr B who go after Mr Prodi’s cronies, and then there are those who think Prodi’s the bees knees and thus ‘investigate’ Berlusco’s boys.

There, now. Everything is crystal clear.

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Never a Dull Moment

January 16, 2008 · Filed Under Life in Italy · 3 Comments 

Slow of the mark as usual - I did not hear or see the news until latish today. Shame, because the headline today was a real corker. The, er, Minister of Justice, one Clemente Mastella resigned, albeit momentarily, today. Apparently the, er, Justice Minister, and, wait for it, his wife, are under investigation for corruption.

Prodi, proving once more that he is not all that keen on transforming Italian politics into something more than a rather sad circus, actually rejected Mastella’s resignation. Surreal.

Italy’s magistrates, as usual, are being called all the names under the sun by the politicians.

It all becomes even more bizarre when you consider that Berlusco has always lambasted the magistrates for persecuting him, and accused them of being politically motivated.

OK, maybe one could have accepted this politically motivated thing, well, in the past. But now when the very same magistrates who rattled Berlusco’s cage are chasing someone who is, on paper, on the opposite end of the, rather wide, Italian political spectrum, how can one accuse them of being politically motivated? I mean, who the heck is the politically motivating force behind the magistrates? Can’t be Prodi’s cronies. Nor can it be Berlusco’s boys.

Who can it be? Motenzemolo’s minions? Vasco Rossi? Valentino Rossi? Osama Bin Laden? The tooth fairy?

Who are the extremists that force the magistrates into investigating those suspected of having committed a crime? It is an absolute mystery to me. It really is.

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