Thousands in Italy march in austerity protests
Reuters: Thousands participated in austerity protests in Rome on Saturday.
Italy is in the midst of its longest recession since 1970 and unemployment is close to record highs, with young people being hit particularly hard with a 38% jobless rate. Approval rates for the government have dropped from 43% to 34% in the last month.
Photo: Demonstrators applaud during the left-wing Italian metalworkers’ union FIOM rally in downtown Rome’s Piazza San Giovanni on Saturday. (Filippo Monteforte/AFP - Getty Images)
The last few years have left many in the European Union dubious of not only the hardships that austerity policies often visit on countries, but also of its practical efficacy, or lack thereof. This will be a paramount issue for the incoming coalition government in Italy.
[We’re satisfied] in terms of the team that we’ve succeeded in putting together, for the willingness that we’ve encountered, for the talent that has put itself at the service of the country. [There’s] satisfaction [also] in terms of the female representation that this government today will be able to show.Incoming Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta • Speaking on his success in amassing a coalition government including his center-left Democratic Party, and the center-right People Of Freedom Party of disgraced former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. While Berlusconi will not be a member of the new coalition government, he figures to hold some sway over party politics, as Letta met with him for hours today ahead of this announcement. This may portend a new look ahead for the people of Italy and their government — while the right-wing will be on stable footing with the left, Letta himself has spoken on moving away from the financial austerity policies of recent years. source
Italian high court overturns Amanda Knox’s acquittal, orders new trial for murder of British student
Italy’s highest criminal court on Tuesday overturned Amanda Knox’s acquittal in the slaying of her British roommate and ordered a new trial, prolonging a case that has become a cause celebre in the United States.
Knox called the decision “painful” but said she was confident that she would be exonerated.
Italian law cannot compel Knox to return for the new trial, and her lawyer said she had no plans to do so. The appellate court hearing the new case could declare her in contempt of court but that carries no additional penalties. (Tiziana Fabi / AFP / Getty Images files)
Think she’ll get convicted in the new trial?
The traditional left-right split has historic and symbolic value… [but] it does not highlight the real alliance that Italy needs — one that focuses on Europe and reforms.Mario Monti, former Italian Prime Minister • Announcing his intention to run in the upcoming election for his old job, which he resigned from last week, and which has recently become a prize sought by Monti’s politically disgraced predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi. Monti, ushered in in 2011 to impose some unpopular austerity measures during the Italian debt crisis, is expected to lead a coalition of centrists against Berlusconi, the sex-scandalized former right-wing PM and media magnate. source
Here’s departing Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti, in his “see ya suckers” pose. Monti, essentially a technocrat put in place to help Italy deal with the country’s financial crisis, announced his resignation over the weekend. He was far more liked among European leaders, who say his reform policies must stay in place, than he was amongst Italian politicians, who look to change them. (photo by Eric Gaillard/Reuters)
I feel obliged to stay in the field to reform the justice system so that what happened to me does not happen to other citizens.Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi • Regarding his decision to stay in politics despite the fact he is facing a four-year jail sentence on tax fraud charges related to his media empire. True to form, Berlusconi made the comments on one of his company’s media outlets, Channel Five television. He has wavered repeatedly regarding what he would do politically in recent months, with some speculating he might attempt to run for higher office in the future.
I didn’t have anything on me and and no-one asked me for anything. I did what I asked and just carried on walking.11-year-old Liam Corcoran-Fort • Discussing the security process he went through when he boarded a flight from Manchester to Rome — despite the fact he didn’t have any sort of identification or a boarding pass and was really just trying to use the bathroom. ”I just wanted to go to the toilet. I wasn’t trying to go anywhere I wasn’t allowed,” Corcoran-Fort, who has learning difficulties, said. ”But it was easier than my homework, even easier than computer games.” For what it’s worth, he did go through a metal detector and body scanner, the airport says.
It’s not technically a breach of security. The boy posed no threat to the aircraft. He went through a security process.Manchester airport spokesperson Russell Craig • Discussing an 11-year-old boy’s trip from England to Italy, where the boy took a Jet2.com plane from Manchester to Rome despite not having a boarding pass or passport. His trip may not have technically been a breach of security, but a ton of people got suspended from their jobs over it. Oops.
Back for more? Word is that Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister who left office amid heavy scandal might get a second wind, in the wake of a strong, hugely-unpopular austerity program that took hold after he left office eight months ago. His allies are hoping he’ll run for office again, though he hasn’t shown his hand quite yet. (Photo by Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images)
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Italian earthquake kills at least 15: The second big earthquake in the Emilia-Romagna region in ten days, the 5.8 magnitude quake is the deadliest to hit the country since the 2009 L’Aquila quake, which killed 300 and left many homeless. (Above: A video showing the shaking in a home affected by the quake.)
The joke’s on the system: Italy’s politics are about to get a lot funnier. Tough-talking comedian Beppe Grillo, working on an anti-austerity platform, scored a shocking victory on Monday, as Federico Pizzarotti, a surrogate of his Five Start Movement party, won an election in Parma, becoming mayor of the city. A number of other Five Start Movement candidates in smaller towns also won, giving Grillo momentum as his party works its way to a national campaign next year. Grillo likely won’t run himself, however — he was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 1980, likely putting a damper on a political run. (photo by Massimo Pinca/AP)
Five dead from the 6.0 magnitude quake: The death toll “could have been much worse,” according to Italian earthquake expert Giovanni Gregori. The Emilia Romagna region was hit on Sunday morning; around 50 historic buildings were damaged. Another earthquake that struck the L’Aquila region three years ago killed 300 people. (Photo by Italy/Reuters) source
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