How corrupt a system must the Italian version be if a ruling by its supreme judicial body threatens to bring down its government. ? Berlusconi has been judged to be a crook. I can think of several other countries whose leadership has been proven to be chronically bent , Israel, America and several other morally third-world States but the crooks have always been punished. Berlusconi isn't even going to jail He's too old, apparently. Perhaps they should take his decades of prevarication and appeals into consideration.
Berlusconi reduced to havin' cronies grovel for pardon... Italy ex-PM Berlusconi in angry tirade at jail ruling 2 August 2013 > Italy's former PM Silvio Berlusconi has broadcast an angry video message after his prison sentence for tax fraud was upheld by the country's highest court. See also: Berlusconi aides seek presidential pardon Aug 3,`13 -- A Silvio Berlusconi loyalist warned on Saturday of a possible "civil war" if the ex-premier's punishment for tax-fraud conviction is not lifted, as his aides maneuvered to win a presidential pardon so he can avoid a prison term and a ban on holding public office.
Problem with Italy is it's a frankenstein nation. The north and south are very different cultures, you have the industrious northern half (part of the european family) and the mafioso south which is culturally closer to the arab world than modern Europe. The Eurozone currency union should have been between only the nordic countries Belgium, Germany, Netherlands and France. All the Mediterranean countries are in a different league both economically, politically and culturally. Fact is Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece are not fully developed 'Western' countries as northern Europeans or north American would consider the definition. The fact that you have such an openly crooked man evading any punishment is perverse and completely unacceptable in the EU. I say boot them all out to form some kind of 2nd rate Mediterranean Union (or moooooo!). Who needs Italy anyway, everyones favourite pizza topping is pepperoni and that's american.
It seems you missed out Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Yemen. Or did you just forget?
Actually we already know how bad idea an european union was since there is no homogenity in our continent and it would be a great thing if our leaders decided to go out of that mess... italians don't want you, it is you who won't let go of us, and all crooked politicians that want to be part of this mess. A global mess whose economical objective is quite clear except to not-so-smart arses. And it is so much true, that we have a huge gap north-south, many other countries have too. As for the food, i just don't say anything, north european cooking sucks in such a horrible way compared to italy's that even the thought of a comparison itself would be most unfair.
Just a wee joke on the food! Still though you have to be pretty depressed living in Italy right now, why don't italians enjoy the wages of the French and Germans? Anyway the EU is going nowhere, best thing is just to do what the Germans say and maybe in 50 years time your children might have some kind of future making shoes for the super rich Chinese middle classes.
There will be little to enjoy even for north europeans in the near future if things go on like this. The worst case scenario is a europe invaded by immingrants of all kinds, most muslim, with the lower class literally fighting to find work at the lowest price, since so many people need desperately to work. Higher classes will become extremely rich because they can give much lower salaries and governements will become puppets ( if not already ) in the hands of corporations. Personally i'm not depressed since i live in the richest and productive north Italy, but i can see how bad things are going for most people. In the best case scenario, people will wake up and start to vote honest and less greed politicians... hopefully
Berlusconi is a criminal, i think that every italian knows this, but those things that he says on the judiciary are true. The judiciary in italy are a intoccabile and politicized caste that run the worse judicial system in the civilized word, and it attacks anyone wants to try change this system. The people know this one. This is one of the many reasons beacause berlusconi still in the top of italian politics.
Letta Delivers Italian Tax Deal by Appeasing Berlusconi Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta passed cuts to an unpopular property tax in a deal that may mend relations with Silvio Berlusconi, his partner in a fragile coalition government. The government plans to cancel a tax on primary residences this year and replace it in 2014 with a municipal levy, Letta told reporters late yesterday after a cabinet meeting in Rome. Berlusconi, a three-time former premier, praised the deal and said Letta had lived up to his word. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-...roperty-tax-deal-by-appeasing-berlusconi.html
