That Italy’s judiciary is a communist coven is a claim Italy’s prime minister Silvio Berlusconi makes virtually daily.
Recently, in the face of Rubygate these claims have reached a new crescendo.
But is it true? Has Italy’s judiciary been penetrated by communist infiltrators? In other words, is there any evidence that Berlusconi’s mantra that judges in Italy are communists is true?
By now most people will know that Italy’s controversial prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is facing charges in connection with prostitution and abuse of office. As you might expect Berlusconi’s case is being managed by two of Italy’s top lawyers.
One is Niccolò Ghedini and the other is Piero Longo, and both are members of Berlusconi’s party and are serving parliamentarians.
Article amended to reflect conversation with investigating magistrate.
Today on Italian food news site NewsFood.com an article stated that 70% of Italy’s mozzarella cheese is contaminated by bacteria. The truth is that it’s too early to make such a claim – as the 70% really refers to mozzarella tested, not all of the mozzarella in Italy.
Still, while most of the bacteria in question found is not harmful, some is.
I’ve been reading Guardian and Economist journalist and Rome correspondent John Hooper’s articles on events in Italy for some time, then I found John Hooper tweeting on Twitter.
One day, John Hooper actually started following my newsfromitaly persona on Twitter, which meant I could send him a private message. Not that I thought he would agree, but ever hopeful, I fired off a private Tweet to ask him if he’d like to do an interview, albiet via email, for BlogfromItaly.com. Much to my delight (and surprise), he kindly agreed.
Here is the result, and I hope you like the questions I posed to John Hooper, and I suspect you’ll find his responses interesting – I certainly did.
There’s nothing quite like a good cup of Italian espresso coffee, as aficionados will know. The trouble is making a good cup of Italian coffee. Undoubtedly the best place to find good coffee is in a coffee bar in Italy. However coming all the way to Italy for a cup of coffee is not really that practical, as I am sure you will agree. Why not get hold of an Italian espresso maker then?
Forty years ago a young lady, all of eighteen years of age, boarded a train in Trento in the north of Italy heading for Trapani, in Sicily. From Rome onwards this young lady was in tears. She did not feel as if she was in the same country.
The Report documentary programme broadcast by the RAI 3 television channel is already unpopular with Italy’s government for shedding light on many of Italy’s dark sides. Last night, despite threats from Berlusconi’s lawyer who wanted to ban the programme, Report covered Silvio Berlusconi’s ownership of a luxury residential complex in offshore tax haven, Antigua. Report’s report raised a few questions.
Low salaries, unclear career paths, and a distinct lack of meritocracy are aspects of Italy’s job market which have caused many young Italians to look for jobs outside of Italy. Italian brain power, which is not to be underestimated, is moving away, and may never return.
Coming soon to a cinema near you, The Tourist, a film staring Hollywood legends Jolie and Depp, which has Venice as its backdrop. From the trailer, The Tourist looks like a fast moving romp around Venice, with guns, gondolas and more.
