Newsgroup: it.politica.polo
Titolo: FINANCIAL TIMESteh law therefore changes NOTHING

LEADER: Italy's interests
Financial Times; Mar 4, 2002
Before becoming Italy's prime minister last year Silvio Berlusconi
promised to resolve the potential conflict between his vast business
interests and his public role. It is a promise he has not yet kept.
The conflict of interests law passed last week by parliament's lower
house is a fig leaf. (AHAHAHAHAHAHAAH!!!!!! dopo le banane e i fixchi
d'india le foglie di fico...)
 It has been neatly tailored to fit the billionaire's
relationship with his companies. The law prevents company managers,
but not owners, from holding public office. Mr Berlusconi handed over
the management of his Fininvest group to his children when he entered
politics in 1993, but remains the owner. The only concession is that
the prime minister will have to resign as honorary president of AC
Milan, the football club.
The law gives Italy's antitrust authority the job of monitoring any
conflicts, but no independent powers of scrutiny or sanction. Censure
would require approval from parliament, in which Mr Berlusconi has a
comfortable majority. It would require a political defeat to punish
him. THE LAW THEREFORE CHANGES NOTHING.
As long as Mr Berlusconi's wealth is tied up in his media and
financial services empire, the government will face suspicions that
its decisions are commercially driven. Without an independent means of
verification, it is impossible to establish whether the prime minister
truly has an arm's length relationship with the companies he owns.
The biggest concern is not so much that Mr Berlusconi's private
interests will benefit from office, but vice versa. Majority ownership
of Mediaset, which runs Italy's three main private television
channels, and regulatory control of the state broadcaster RAI gives
the prime minister enormous power. This will be useful if Mr
Berlusconi is found guilty later this year in a corruption case.
Favourable coverage is crucial if he is to take on a
judiciary that he regards as vindictive and politically motivated.
Government influence on the media is not uncommon in Europe. Indeed,
the previous centre-left government in Rome failed to free RAI of
political control. But Mr Berlusconi's dominance marks Italy out. 
AN INDIPENDENT MEDIA IS ESSENTIAL TO ANY DEMOCRACY. 
NONE OF THE COUNTRIES OF EASTERN EUROPE WOULD BE ALLOWED TO JOIN THE
EUROPEN UNION IF A PRIME MINISTER HELD WUCH WAY OVER 90 PER CENT OF
NATIONAL TELEVISION.
Mr Berlusconi's personal interests have begun to spill over to Europe,
as demonstrated by his efforts to hamper closer judicial co-operation.
Yet after the humiliating climb-down over sanctions on Austria two
years ago, the EU is hesitant to intervene in the domestic affairs of
a member.
There can only be an Italian solution to the problem. The conflict of
interests law should be toughened up when it passes to the Senate.
Although there is some unease in the coalition, a rebellion is
unlikely. In that case, President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi should use his
veto. The government must also introduce a regulatory framework that
takes control of RAI away from politicians once and for all.
Italian democracy is not yet in danger. But EU leaders such as Tony
Blair who are eager to do business with Mr Berlusconi cannot ignore
the fact that he is testing the rules to the limit. Their credibility
is also at stake.
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PER CHI NON MASTICA L'INGLESE
Critica feroce alla Legge truffa sul Conflitto di interessi, sul
pericoloso enorme potere di Berlusconi sui mezzi di informazione
(Mediaset da padrone e RAI da governante), propone il veto del
Presidente della Repubblica sulla Legge in caso dovesse passare al
Senato dubitando che l'UE interverrà con
sanzioni vista la fallita azione contro l'Austria e richiama
violentemente Blair per la sua intenzione di fare affari con
Berlusconi.
Qui l'Italia rischia davvero l'isolamento dall'Europa...(n.d.r.)
 
Stupendo a Roma!500mila  persone salvano l'onore d'Italia:non siamo tutti servi!

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