"The Untouchable” is watching you from the streets of New York. "The Untouchable” is in this case none else than Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s controversial prime minister whom everybody’s got to know now due to the news spread out all over the international papers, of the despicable forced resignation of Dino Boffo, the editor of the Catholic Church's daily, L'Avvenire. Boffo announced his resignation following a campaign against him in Il Giornale, the newspaper owned by the Berlusconi family. With this resignation, Berlusconi was able to claim the first scalp in his rapidly escalating battle with the church and the media, which began when a string of sex scandals struck Berlusconi himself. I don’t usually like talking about politics in this modest blog of mine and even in private unless something really strikes me hard. For years now my country has been putting up with this disgraceful individual that is ruining the dignity and pride of his own nation.
But he was voted with a significant majority at the last elections and he seems difficult, if not impossible to get rid of. A friend of mine who lives in NYC saw one of these posters scattered around the city and emailed me a photo. Nobody knows exactly who’s behind this campaign. But it’s good that Berlusconi’s true colours are revealed abroad as well. Who knows, maybe sooner or later the untouchable might get what he deserves, exactly as it happened to Al Capone to whom this poster is inspired.
But he was voted with a significant majority at the last elections and he seems difficult, if not impossible to get rid of. A friend of mine who lives in NYC saw one of these posters scattered around the city and emailed me a photo. Nobody knows exactly who’s behind this campaign. But it’s good that Berlusconi’s true colours are revealed abroad as well. Who knows, maybe sooner or later the untouchable might get what he deserves, exactly as it happened to Al Capone to whom this poster is inspired.
PS: Another friend of mine from Italy has just told me that these posters are already all over the Italian papers. So it wasn't a "scoop" after all!
9 comments:
Wow! I had no idea. There is alot of power struggles around the world right now, that quite honestly makes me nervous.
I feel really ashamed as an Italian abroad when I am. Last year in Belgium I was asked thousands of questions about this man by my Flemish and Swedish colleagues. It was hard to make them believe I didn't contribute to that man success. I stopped watching TV and reading the newspapers because of him. I think Italians deserve what they got, because the majority of them voted him and still support him and his shameful political success. Why do I write about Italians as if I weren't one of them? Because I usually say I've "landed" in this country by mistake. It's not a joke. There are so many things I can't bear, Prime Minister apart!
He's a odd 'un (as they say where you now live, Antonella)...
Hi there-yes, all you hear about him is negative, not a good impression for a prime minister!! Have a good Sunday!
I was listening to a radio show this week and someone said that politicans often go into politics for the right reasons but quickly lose sight of this aim in the corridors of power.
I have interviewed many politicians from local level to government level over the years and foudn them all slippery characters.
Ciao Antonella, great entry :) Yep, get rid of him would be great. But, is there any Italian politician who is not "corrupt", that we can actually vote as a decent Prime Minister? At this point, we are afraid not. Every Italian politician has already proven he/she won't be much different once obtained that high position.
Have a lovely Sunday with your beautiful family. Rainy, dark and chilly here, but hopefully the sun will come out one day soon.
@Sher: I think in this case it’s not a power struggle, just power and corruption. I’d rather be here than there in Italy at the moment!
@Maria Grazia: I totally agree with you. Can you imagine I feel living here in the UK and being constantly reminded of our country’s shame? Have you noticed that nobody seems to want to admit to have voted him? Really absurd. MG, you’re always welcome to come to the UK should it all get too much. Far from being perfect, at least we are not governed by a corrupted sex maniac!!!
@The Dotterel: He’s not just odd, Tim, he simply a crook!
@Sharon Rose: He’s actually worse than what you hear. I’m quite happy not be governed by him! Ciao!
@The Small Fabric Of My Life: Dear Jane, I agree that most politicians are rather slimy as the struggle for power make them insensitive and easy to be corrupted but the Berlusconi case is really extreme, even for a country like Italy that’s got a history of being right wing. If you hear him talking you’d feel so bemused that he’s in charge of one of the G8 countries!
@Kia: Hi Kia, don’t get me started on this! Although Italian politicians are all pretty bad, I firmly believe that nobody can be as bad as this one. He’s someone who’s has twisted the rules not to end up in jail, used his money, his newspapers and media empire to get to power, not to mention his absolutely inexistent moral standing! The only one who reminds me of him is long dead after contributing to the terrible tragedy that was WWII!
PS. Cold and grey here too!
It seems that we are both saddled with leaders that are seriously causing international shame for our countries :(
I understand all the struggles you are describing. We saw a short documentary here about Berlusconi and his immense power and trecherous ways not too long ago. I hope he gets what he deserves. Although I won't hold my breath though...
xo
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