Category Archives: politics

The right of the strongest

There’s a typically Italian kerfuffle going on here at the moment about the authorisation of Ru486, the pill that induces abortion. It’s used pretty much everywhere in the developed world, but Italy’s taken its time about saying yes, for obvious … Continue reading

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Big Mike

Sandro Bondi is a professional politician with a degree in philosophy. He started out in the Italian Communist Party (PCI), working as an insurance agent, then became mayor of Fivizzano and swiftly transformed the town council, and himself, into Christian … Continue reading

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Quoted

To my surprise and pleasure, I’ve been quoted by la Repubblica today. You can read the article, about the way Berlusconi is being represented by the foreign press, here. The reference is to the comment I left on Geoff Andrews’ ten … Continue reading

Posted in berlusconi, italy, politics | 1 Comment

More questions for SB…

…can be found in this excellent piece by Geoff Andrews. 

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Family holidays

According to the ex-boyfriend of Noemi Letizia, the 18-year-old knicker model and would-be member of parliament who refers to Silvio Berlusconi as her ‘papi‘, Noemi was invited to one of SB’s villas in Sardinia last summer, along with 30 or … Continue reading

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Why Italy is boring

I admit it. I’ve been putting this off. Partly because I’m no authority on Italy and don’t want to pass myself off as one. I just live here, along with 60 million other people, many of whom have greater claim … Continue reading

Posted in berlusconi, italy, politics | 6 Comments

Naples, 21-22 March 2009

Posted in graffiti, italy, naples, photography, politics | 2 Comments

Strano is as Strano does

The name of the caterwauling, gesticulating oaf with the slice of mortadella hanging from his lips is Nino Strano, the place – alas! – is the Italian senate. Nino Strano is insulting Romano Prodi and his supporters in the way … Continue reading

Posted in berlusconi, freedom of speech, italy, politics | 2 Comments

Après Walter… Who?

If you live in Italy, or care two pins about it (these categories aren’t necessarily coterminous), you may want to express your opinion on who should replace Veltroni as head of the Partito Democratico. Well, La Repubblica has set up an … Continue reading

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New day

“I will listen to you, especially when we disagree.” Barack Obama

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