Newsgroup: it.politica
Titolo: Washington Post: le promesse 'evaporate' di Berlusconi

Voglio vedere anche quello scemo di drugo dire che il WP č pro-berlusconi,
beccatevi la battuta sul prosciutto di Parma, che razza di figura di
merda...
Italian Makes Casual Entry Into Foreign Affairs
Leader's Odd Style Repellent to Some
By Daniel Williams
Washington Post Foreign Service
Thursday, January 10, 2002; Page A16
ROME, Jan. 9 -- Normally, dinners between the foreign ministers of Spain and
Italy make little news here. This week, one made big news because it was
canceled.
The Tuesday night dinner, with Spain's Josep Pique, was to be the first
official function for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in his new,
self-appointed role as foreign minister. After a raucous week in which the
previous foreign minister, Renato Ruggiero, quit in a dispute over Italy's
commitment to the European Union, Berlusconi took the reins himself.
But he showed no rush to do anything with the new job. He spent time in
Sardinia, where he has a vacation villa, made a few phone calls, canceled
the meeting with Pique and left many Italians wondering where their
country's foreign policy was going and who would lead it.
In fields other than foreign policy, it also has been hard to pin down the
drift of Berlusconi's governance, now in its eighth month. Some of the
campaign promises made by the billionaire politician, who founded Italy's
biggest private media company, seem to have evaporated quickly, notably a
promise to reduce taxes. Others are far from taking shape, in particular a
process of conveying power to Italy's regions.
But one thing has stood out: the Berlusconi style -- unpredictable, blunt,
take-no-prisoners, with a tendency to blame problems on Communist plotting.
Today, he returned to Rome and the Farnesina, the building that houses the
foreign ministry. He had his photograph taken with a new group of diplomats
just entering the ranks. He took the opportunity to blame criticism of his
handling of Ruggiero on a "leftist-central" faction in Italy that got in
touch with its friends in the media in other countries to defame him.
Berlusconi's style has created consternation abroad, and some supporters
here are taken aback.
Il Foglio, a newspaper that largely supports Berlusconi, commented this week
that Berlusconi "always makes the same mistake: in the exercise of
leadership." Ruggiero's exit was heralded by a series of attack interviews
in newspapers given by ministers in Berlusconi's center-right government.
Berlusconi piled on by saying, essentially, that Ruggiero didn't count. He
was but a "technician" carrying out the prime minister's will, Berlusconi
said. Ruggiero took that as his cue to leave.
If Berlusconi wanted to dump his foreign minister, Il Foglio said, he should
have prepared the groundwork and been ready to "substitute him with a strong
personality who would give a sign of his leadership."
But what horrifies some of the pundits about Berlusconi has played well
among the Italian public. Soon after the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and
the Pentagon, Berlusconi preached the "superiority" of Western culture over
Islam. The comments were roundly criticized outside Italy, but inside the
country polls showed the public approved.
The same thing happened when Berlusconi told European Union counterparts at
a recent summit meeting in Belgium that the Italian city of Parma was a
better choice than Finland for the site of an EU food office because the
Finns didn't know anything about Italian ham.
"Berlusconi has the talent of expressing common feelings," said Sergio
Romano, a former Italian ambassador to Russia. "Of course, what the public
likes and what is proper under the rules of diplomacy may be very
different."
In defense of his actions, Berlusconi quickly made an economic pitch. He
said he will order the foreign ministry to aggressively promote Italy's
exports. Italy's business community, especially in the prosperous north, is
a pillar of Berlusconi's support.
Supporters and critics of Berlusconi alike say he has shown little interest
in the nitty-gritty of foreign affairs. Moreover the job, which includes
endless get-togethers with counterparts all over Europe and trips to
far-flung nations, hardly fits the profile of a leader who prefers to work
at home -- Berlusconi spends little time even in Rome, the capital,
preferring to stay at his home in Milan.
Gianfranco Fini, the deputy prime minister, has offered to take over as
foreign minister. He heads the National Alliance, the second-largest party
in Berlusconi's coalition and one once rooted in fascism.
Besides the who of foreign policy, observers are awaiting the what, as
Italy's place in Europe is open to question. Berlusconi insists he is a
"Europeanist," but has not detailed his position on EU membership for more
countries nor closer political integration of member states, both important,
pending issues.
He responded coldly to this month's introduction of the new European
currency, remarking that he doesn't carry cash, and refused to join a
construction consortium for a new European military transport plane. "Our
European partners do not understand our position. Berlusconi needs to offer
a clear line," said Romano.
"We are already suspect in Europe," said Giovanni Sartori, a constitutional
expert. "And the fear is justified because [a unified] Europe is still under
construction."
Š 2002 The Washington Post Company

> . . . with a tendency to blame problems on Communist plotting
Se ne sono accorti anche in america.