Silvio Berlusconi; answers, please

posted by Geoff Andrews at Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Open Democracy 9 June

The response from Italians to my article on openDemocracy posing ten questions to Silvio Berlusconi has been overwhelming. Many have expressed their deep anger at the Italian prime minister's public and private behaviour, which provoked the questions in the first place (see "Silvio Berlusconi: ten more questions", 1 June 2009 - and the many comments from Italian citizens, inside and outside the country, that follow).

I have been very moved by what La Repubblica - the Italian newspaper which began the interrogation of Berlusconi with its own dieci domande on 14 May - called the valanga (avalanche) of responses on the openDemocracy site.

Many of these comments indicate a hunger for civic engagement, for further discussion of Italy's problems, and for action to restore democracy and public life in the country

There is also embarrassment, even shame, at the image Berlusconi has imposed on Italy. Some respondents have further highlighted the real dangers to democracy; others call on their compatriots to "wake up". Almost all share deep fears over the direction he is taking Italy, in the face of declining international credibility.

A few correspondents have pointed to the sheer desperation of the current situation. Leoluca Orlando, the former mayor of Palermo and a member of the Italia dei Valori (Italy of Values), wrote to thank me for my efforts. He described the situation in which public institutions in Italy have degenerated under Berlusconi as a "climate of tragedy" that has similarities with Russia in the time of the Tsars.

The Portuguese author Jose Saramago, a Nobel literature laureate, published a scathing article on Berlusconi in the leading Spanish daily newspaper, El País. He described current events in Italy as indicative of a "virus (which) threatens to cause the moral death" of a country whose values of "liberty and dignity" pervade "the music of Verdi and the political action of Garibaldi" (see "La cosa Berlusconi", El País, 7 June 2009).

Saramago even uses the term delincuencia (delinquency) to describe Berlusconi's recent behaviour; he glosses this as the "act of committing crimes, disobeying laws or moral codes". El País has also been printing daily photographs - whose publication is banned in Italy - of scantily dressed young women attending a party at Berlusconi's Villa Certosa in Sardinia.

The world's voice

The scandals and excesses that have marked Silvio Berlusconi's leadership of an Italian government - including the conflict of interests over the vast media networks he owns or controls - have never been fully investigated or resolved. For example, an Italian court ruled on 19 May that the prime minister bribed his British lawyer David Mills by paying him to give false testimony. Berlusconi, however, refuses even to answer serious questions about his conduct. It is impossible to imagine such a situation existing in any other modern European democracy. There is security in the holding of power. Sergio Rizzo & Gian Antonio Stella's best-selling La Casta (2007) offered a devastating critique of the political elite, yet there was zero effect in terms of resignations.

Silvio Berlusconi has stated that the growing criticism of him in the international press has been orchestrated by left-wing opponents. But many of his biggest critics are on the right. In Britain, for example, it is the Times, the Daily Telegraph and the Economist - establishment or centre-right newspapers - that are among the most persistent in examining his record.

Berlusconi's claim that the criticism has been fuelled by the rival media empire of Rupert Murdoch is equally skewed. The reports published in the foreign press should be measured against the evidence they cite. In any event, Berlusconi's own media outlets are vehicles of his own interests and prejudices - so he can hardly scold others on these grounds, even were it true (and he has yet to produce evidence either of left-wing conspiracy or corporate rivalry as a source of attacks on him).

Silvio Berlusconi's refusal to answer important questions over his conduct is now a matter of wide public interest. The results of the elections to the European parliament on 6-7 June suggest that the criticism is having an effect: in a worse-than-expected outcome, Berlusconi's Il Popolo della Libertà (PdL) party won 35% of the vote, a fall from the 37.3% it won the general election of April 2008.

The conduct of this Italian prime minister has important international repercussions. Silvio Berlusconi jets to the White House to meet Barack Obama on 15 June. He hosts the G8 summit in L'Aquila on 8-10 July. The summer heat is rising, and so is the political pressure. Now is the time for some answers.

Altri Dieci Domande ..Caro Signor Berlusconi

posted by Geoff Andrews at Wednesday, June 03, 2009

La Repubblica 2 June 2009

ROMA - Dopo Repubblica, l'organizzazione no-profit britannica Open Democracy, che promuove il rispetto dei diritti umani e della democrazia, rivolge a Silvio Berlusconi altre dieci domande. Sul sito, Geoff Andrews - accademico e cronista esperto di affari italiani, oltre che autore di un libro recente sul nostro paese, pubblicato in Gran Bretagna e tradotto anche in Italia, intitolato "Un paese anormale" - chiede al presidente del Consiglio di fare chiarezza su diversi temi.

Ecco il testo dell'articolo pubblicato in inglese sul sito di Open democracy:

Caro signor Berlusconi,

Sono passate quasi tre settimane dalla pubblicazione su Repubblica delle dieci domande riguardo la sua relazione con Noemi Letizia. Lei ha scelto di non rispondere, sostenendo che l'iniziativa del giornale era parte di una campagna organizzata dalla sinistra. Nelle settimane successive, lei ha accusato Repubblica di aver orchestrato un complotto di sinistra che si è esteso alla stampa internazionale, coinvolgendo, fra gli altri il Times e l'Economist. Nello stesso periodo, lei ha anche descritto il Parlamento italiano come "inutile" e i giudici come motivati "dall'odio" e dalla "gelosia".

Mancano solo pochi giorni alle elezioni europee, che si terranno negli Stati membri dal 4 al 7 giugno, e in Italia il 6 ed il 7 giugno. Poi l'Italia ospiterà il G8 all'Aquila dall'8 al 10 luglio. La sua risposta, ancora una volta, ha sollevato dubbi di interesse pubblico più ampio, sul suo comportamento come primo ministro italiano. Vorrei rivolgerle anch'io altre dieci domande.

1) Lei ha rivolto molte critiche al ruolo della stampa in questo caso, nonostante il fatto che Il Giornale (quotidiano di proprietà della sua famiglia), come altri giornali, abbiano difeso regolarmente la sua condotta. Pochi primi ministri hanno questo privilegio, tuttavia lei continua ad insistere sul fatto che la stampa le è contro. Qual è il suo concetto, allora, di stampa libera? Per esempio, porrebbe condizioni alle critiche che la stampa può muovere al primo ministro?

2) Le ha accusato la Repubblica di "sfruttare questioni private per fini politici". Eppure, i confini fra "pubblico" e "privato" nella sua vita politica spesso si sovrappongono, soprattutto per il fatto che lei possiede diversi quotidiani e stazioni televisive e allo stesso tempo detiene il potere politico. Lei accettò di risolvere il "conflitto di interessi" entro 100 giorni dalla sua entrata in carica, eppure nulla è stato fatto ancora. Questa situazione solleva ampie critiche in Europa. Perché non ha risolto il "conflitto di interessi" e non crede che esso presenti un problema per la democrazia italiana?

3) Il 21 maggio 2009 lei ha descritto il Parlamento italiano come "inutile", suggerendo che solo 100 parlamentari sarebbero sufficienti per svolgere il loro compito in modo efficace. Allo stesso tempo, sostiene che il popolo italiano sia "con lei". E' sua opinione, quindi, che il popolo italiano sarebbe felice di darle più potere per far funzionare le cose in modo più efficace?

4) Lei ha paragonato il ruolo del governo a quello di un'azienda privata e in un confronto fra legislatori e imprenditori, considera migliori i secondi. Comprende la differenza fra essere un uomo d'affari di successo e uno statista di successo?

5) Il 19 maggio, un tribunale italiano ha emesso una sentenza secondo la quale lei ha corrotto l'avvocato inglese David Mills, pagando 600,000 sterline perché testimoniasse il falso a suo favore. Mills è stato condannato a febbraio, lei invece è stato protetto da una legge che le garantisce l'immunità varata sotto il suo governo. Lei ha detto che riferirà in Parlamento sulla questione "appena ne avrà il tempo", ma non prima delle elezioni europee. Perché e quando saranno fatte queste dichiarazioni al Parlamento?

6) Oltre alle critiche rivolte al Parlamento italiano, lei attacca regolarmente i giudici per il loro "pregiudizio" e la loro "insanità". Lei è stato recentemente oggetto di critiche per aver insidiato le procedure costituzionali, cosa che ha portato ad un contrasto con il presidente della Repubblica, Giorgio Napolitano, recentemente, in particolare, per il caso del diritto a morire di Eluana Englaro. E' stato detto che lei stesso aspira a succedere a Napolitano. Può confermare la sua intenzione di voler diventare presidente della Repubblica? E in che modo arriverebbe a ricoprire questo ruolo?

7) A luglio 2009 lei ospiterà il summit del G8 all'Aquila. In precedenti occasioni internazionali e riunioni con leader mondiali, lei ha avuto problemi di comunicazione con alcuni dei suoi pari. Crede che ce ne saranno altri quest'anno?

8) Quali sono, a suo giudizio, i maggiori successi che ha conseguito come primo ministro italiano?

9) Nelle scorse settimane, lei ha negato di essere stato coinvolto direttamente nel processo di selezione di showgirl televisive come candidate parlamentari per il suo partito, anche se il suo quotidiano Il Giornale, lo ha ammesso. Può chiarire se è stato o meno coinvolto nel processo di selezione?

10) Infine, perché Noemi Letizia, la sua amica diciottenne di Napoli, la chiama "papi"?

Cordialmente,

Geoff Andrews

(2 giugno 2009)

TEN MORE QUESTIONS FOR SILVIO BERLUSCONI

posted by Geoff Andrews at Monday, June 01, 2009

Open Democracy, 1 June 2009

Dear Signor Berlusconi,

It is now nearly three weeks since La Repubblica published its list of ten questions in connection with your relationship to Noemi Letizia. You have chosen not to answer their questions, claiming that the newspaper's initiative was part of a campaign organised by the left. In the weeks since, you have accused La Repubblica of orchestrating a left-wing plot that has extended to the international press, drawing in the Times and the Economist, amongst others. In this period you have also described the Italian parliament as "useless" and judges as being fuelled by "hatred" and "jealousy".

It is now only days before the European elections to be held across the European Union's member-states on 4-7 June 2009, with Italy's on 6-7 June; these will be followed by Italy's hosting of the G8 summit in Aquila on 8-10 July. Your response has once again raised questions of wider public interest over your performance as Italian prime minister. I would like to put these further ten questions to you now.

1) You have made many criticisms of the role of the press in this case, despite the fact that Il Giornale (a paper owned by your family), as well as other newspapers, have regularly defended your conduct. Few prime ministers have that privilege, yet you persist in saying that the press is against you. What is your understanding, then, of a free press? For example, would you put any conditions on criticisms the press may make of the prime minister?

2) You accused La Repubblica of "exploiting private matters for political ends". Yet, the "public" and "private" boundaries often overlap in your political life, notably through your own vast private ownership of daily newspapers and several TV stations, while you simultaneously wield political power. You agreed to resolve this "conflict of interests" within 100 days of taking office, yet nothing has been done. There are wide criticisms of this situation throughout Europe. Why have you not resolved this "conflict of interests" and do you not think it presents a problem for Italian democracy?

3) On 21 May 2009, you described the Italian parliament as "useless", suggesting that only 100 MPs were needed to get the work done. At the same time, you claim that the Italian people are "with you". Is your view, then, that the Italian electorate would happily give you more power to "get things done" more efficiently?

4) You have compared the role of government to that of a private company, and contrasted legislators unfavourably with entrepreneurs. Do you understand the difference between being a successful salesman and a successful statesman?

5) On 19 May, an Italian court ruled that you had bribed your British lawyer, David Mills, by paying $600,000 to give false testimony on your behalf. Mills was convicted in February, though you have been protected by parliamentary-immunity legislation passed by your government. You have said that you will be making a statement to parliament on the matter "as soon as you have time", but not before the European elections. Why is that and when will the statement be made?

6) In addition to your criticisms of the Italian parliament, you regularly attack Italian judges for their bias and "insanity". You have recently faced criticism for undermining constitutional procedures, leading to conflict with the president of the Italian republic, Giorgio Napolitano, most recently in the right-to-die case of Eluana Englaro. It has been claimed that you yourself have high aspirations to succeed Napolitano. Can you confirm your intention to become president of the republic and what would you bring to the role?

7) In July 2009 you will be hosting a G8 summit in Aquila. At previous summits and international gatherings of world leaders, you have had some communication problems with some of your peers. Do you envisage any more this year?

8) What, in your view, are your greatest achievements as Italian prime minister?

9) During the last few weeks you have denied being directly involved in the selection of TV showgirls as parliamentary candidates for your party, even though your own newspaper Il Giornale has admitted as much. Can you clarify whether you have or you have not?

10) Finally, why does Noemi Letizia, your 18-year-old friend in Naples, call you "Papi"?

Yours sincerely,

Geoff Andrews