Wednesday, March 3, 2010

THE LAW IS THE LAW FOR ALL BUT BERLUSCONI




Like in any other country, in Italy there are laws. Indeed many, concerning fraud, bankruptcy, corruption, are being constantly modified according to the personal needs of Berlusconi. Since he took power, his majority already approved 19 laws “ad personam”. i.e. to protect one person: himself.

There are also laws concerning elections: one of them provides for the requirements for any list to be accepted by the Electoral commission, in this case independent judges. Two of these requirements are a valid and verified number of signatures of voters and a time limit to present the lists.

Now it happened that….

In Rome, the person in charge of submitting the list for Berlusconi’s party did not submit it on time. Officially, according to the person, it is because he was hungry and went to buy a sandwich. In fact, it seems almost certain that he left the Tribunal to change le list at the request of Berlusconi. And he came back too late.

The Tribunal refused to accept the list and Berlusconi’s party may be out. The law is the law. But not for him. First he thought to pass a new law changing the existing one, retroactive of course. But he was made to realize that this would not work, due to other communist judges, the members of the Constitutional Court. So his ministers started calling for a rebellion in the streets and the Senate President, Mr. Schifani, a Sicilian used to the way laws are interpreted in the island, the second highest ranking Italian official, the one who is in charge of the country when the President is absent or incapacitated, stated that the “substance must prevail over the procedures”. But he kept silent when, due to procedures changed by Berlusconi for himself, the latter was acquitted or his trial were suspended due to expiration of terms.

In Milan, the required number of valid signatures, duly certified, was not attained. And another Berlusconi’s agents risks the election.
The law is the law, but not if Berlusconi’s interest are at stake.

Banana Republic ? no….Berlusconi Republic.


FOTO: TUTTOSPORT.COM

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