Wednesday 9 April 2008

Italian Elections

Without freedom of information there’s no democracy. If information becomes the tool of private interests and of the parties, there’s no democracy. If Asphalt Head [Berlusconi, ed.] has three national TV channels and 40 newspapers and magazines, there’s no democracy. If the parties have control of the RAI [Italian BBC] there’s no democracy... If election referenda are cancelled by Calderoli [former Berlusconi Minister of the Interior] or postponed by Napolitano, there’s no democracy. If 350,000 signatures for three popular laws are festering in a cellar in the Senate, there’s no democracy. If we can’t vote for a candidate, there’s no democracy. If Cuffaro, Crisafulli, Carra, Dell’Utri, and Cesa [all Berlusconi and Mafia candidates] are already elected to Parliament, there’s no democracy. If after the rigged elections there are 100 people who have been convicted at the first level, the second level or definitively, or on remand, representing us, there’s no democracy. If the newspapers receive a billion euro a year in public financing, there’s no democracy... If Bossi [leader of the racialist Northern Leagues] can threaten the State with rifles, there’s no democracy. If the parties take the mafia votes, there’s no democracy. If Bassolino [responsible for the rubbish] is President of the Campania Region, there’s no democracy. Without freedom of information, it’s not possible to choose. Citizens have the right to be informed. Without this right there’s no democracy. Citizens have the right to be represented by gentlemen. Without this right there’s no democracy... The Rome Tribunal has prohibited the use of the name and the image of Beppe Grillo for the lists “Grilli parlanti” [the Talking Grasshopper from Pinocchio who speaks the truth] and “No Euro – Lista del Grillo”. The TV channels and the newspapers cannot promote these lists. The TV presenters cannot promote these lists... Support the civic lists in your cities and the regional list of Sonia Alfano in Sicily. The renewal of the Country starts with the towns and the Regions. The renewal starts with the young people. Freedom starts with the freedom of information. V2 Day - 25 April

(summary from Beppe Grillo's blog)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Quite so. When you refer to mad Brown and new labour fascism, therefore, close your eyes and think of Italy.

hatfield girl said...

Plainly I am presenting a shortened version of Beppe Grillo, for anyone interested in the events of next weekend, C. Those are not criticisms for me to make as a guest in Italy, but they do seem to be opinions quite widely held.

I shall vote for a civic list in Florence, if I can work out where I am on the ballot, and how not to spoil my paper. If not I shall put a kiss next to the Partito Democratico and hope it doesn't go to a communist or a socialist. That nice Mr di Pietro is who I would be aiming at.