Italy’s Parliament: A Safe Haven for Criminals?
September 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Bossi, whose party supposedly stands for honesty and integrity, decided that his interests were far more important than demonstrating that misbehaving politicians should be held responsible for their actions. No. Instead Bossi assisted in the sending of a message that corruption is good.
Milanese stands accused of corruption, passing on state secrets, interfering with appointments within Italy’s Guardia di Finanza tax police, accepting gifts including a Ferrari, a boat, free travel and accommodation. He’s also suspected of involvement in the secret P4 corruption network. It is no wonder investigators were seeking his arrest.
Yet despite the extremely serious allegations this member of Italy’s parliament faces, 312 of his chums voted against his arrest. According to Italian paper Il Messaggero, Berlusconi was unhappy that only 7 votes saved Milanese from being taken into custody.
The message this sends out to the nation and to the rest of the world, is that corruption is absolutely OK in Italy.
What a message to transmit, especially in view of the legal troubles and scandals which another top ranking Italian member of parliament is facing. That top MP is none other than Silvio Berlusconi – Italy’s Prime Minister. Incidentally, Berlusconi is about to face charges concerning passing on state secrets to third parties.
Other members of Italy’s ruling party such as Claudio Scajola are also facing allegations of corruption and one is even suspected of being under the thumb of the mafia (Agriculture Minister Francesco Romano).
Recently, another member of Berlusconi’s ruling party, Alfonso Papa, was arrested after Italy’s politicians did actually vote for his arrest.
What happened this time?
Umberto Bossi‘s Lega Nord party decided to save Milanese and, probably, save Bossi’s own political neck too. It was suspected that if the OK to Milanese’s arrrest had been given, then the Berlusconi government would have toppled.
Bossi, whose party supposedly stands for honesty and integrity, decided that his interests were far more important than demonstrating that misbehaving politicians should be held responsible for their actions. No. Instead Bossi assisted in the sending of a message that corruption is good.
