Berlusconi's Latest Gaffe

[Nardini]

A couple of interesting comments here.

[Charles Phillips]

And your point is? I don't mean to sound facetious, but talking to Egypt about economic and environmental co-operation doesn't strike me as a gaffe. Reponding to something which appears to be Mubarak taking a (predictable) anti Zionist position sees Berlusconi repeating Hillary Clinton's utterances on this subject.Talking about refining the proposals to make illegal immigration a 'crime' seems to me to be entirely sensible and responsive to the objections made to the 'broad brush' election promises (in particular to the presumed intention to incarcerate illegal immigrants, which wasn't ever on the table). Talking about assisting illegal African immigrants to repatriate themselves doesn't sound harsh.

So where is the gaffe? Not knowing that Mubarak had only been in power for 27 years?

[pigro]

I think this thread has moved on from purely being a "gaffe watch" to monitoring Berlu's public utterances in general. I did find the article linked to by nardini interesting (which is all he claimed) - see here Berlusconi rows back on bill against immigration -DAWN - International; June 04, 2008 for a fuller explantion of Berlu's reported comments. So, interesting that he is personally unsympathetic to the hard line legislation that he's committed to pursuing, and an early indication that he may not be hugely comfortable with his bedfellows?

[Charles Phillips]

Well, I think you are reading too much into it to say that Silvio is less than comfortable with his bedfellows (but you may be correct philosphically which is a different consideration from politically). I am also happy to ignore the 'gaffe' stuff, and I welcome Nardini's efforts to engage the forum in an intelligent discussion of what is happening at (oh God, prepare yourself) "this moment in time" - more power to all your elbows, and isn't it strange that here (in this thread) we can argue without the 'ad hominem' considerations which pervade discussions on the weather! And seriously, I do believe that we are, in Italy, and with a damaged Berlusconi, at one of those moments in time, and it is a very good thing that every utterance of Silvio is discussed not only here but on American oriented forums, not to mention Napolitani forums. It does seem to me to be an atmosphere akin to the days before the Berlin wall crumbled...but I'm usually wrong.

[pigro]

Originally Posted by Charles Phillips

Well, I think you are reading too much into it to say that Silvio is less than comfortable with his bedfellows.

don't see how - I'm reading into it only what it says: the remark to Sarkozy, reported in my link, clearly indicates his personal opposition to the (Liga Nord inspired) legislation which nardini's link then has him confirm will be put to parliament. Now he may be being economical with the truth about his real opinions, but I'm not reading anything that ain't stated in black & white. Mind-reading is beyond me as a mere holiday home fly-by-nighter, I'll take that up when I have residency & can devote my days to reading between the lines rather than along them :-)

[Charles Phillips]

Okay - I have just read your link, and it is about incarcerating illegal immigrants. This proposal (I repeat, because I mentioned it before) was not part of any Berlusconi election manifesto. Making illegal immigration a crime was part of the manifesto, but a crime does not of necessity imply incarceration. I'm not trying to be clever here or to play with words....but what does Sangatte mean to you? Is that 'incarceration', or are the British and the French playing by different rules?

[Noma]

It's more than a difference over incarceration. Berlu is now arguing against making clandestinità un reato period.

See Berlusconi: "reato di clandestinità è inapplicabile" - Stranieri in Italia - il portale dell'immigrazione e degli immigrati stranieri*-*Stranieri in Italia - il portale dell'immigrazione e degli immigrati stranieri

[Nardini]

Goal.com - AC Milan - Did Berlusconi Stop Georgia War?

Well, it made me smile...

[myabruzzohome]

Wonderful programme last night on R4 'The Italian Patient' 9pm -it's now avaiable on bbc website as listen again and I can really recommend it.

Reporter (itaian) travels from Naples to Verona to Rome looking talking to many different Italians about Silvio /his policies etc etc.Never realised how rw Verona was and interesting interview with the mayor.