Press freedom

Organizers of the march say billionaire media mogul and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Bersluconi represents a dangerous and growing threat to press freedom. Berlusconi owns or controls most of the TV stations in Italy, and this year, the country slipped to 73rd place in a ranking measuring freedom of speech.

Lately, Berlusconi has been having a tough time of it in the nation's newspapers, with intense focus on allegations that he'd slept with prostitutes and carried on "inappropriate" relationships with much younger women. So as the Italian fall television season kicked off, the prime minister took to the stage of his favorite state-run show, "Porta a porta," and let the press have it.

Berlusconi lambasted journalists critical of him, calling them "scoundrels." He said the accusations against him were scandalous, unfounded and laughable. And he accused the country's international left-wing newspapers of spreading the notion that Italy's press freedom was in danger, adding that they were committing libel against Italy and against democracy.

Berlusconi accused of interference

Despite his fiery appearance, thousands of Italians disagree with the prime minister. A petition to protest lack of freedom of speech has garnered some 450,000 signatures in recent weeks. Partly, people cite well-known concerns of conflict of interest caused by having a prime minister who happens to control all of Italy's public and most of its private TV offerings.

But lately these concerns have taken on an added dimension. For one thing, Berlusconi is suing several Italian papers, in one case for daring to ask uncomfortable questions. Additionally, his family-owned newspaper forced the resignation of a critical Catholic editor when they revealed he was gay. And Berlusconi has also urged advertisers not to buy space in papers which are critical of him. All forms of intimidation, according to Berlusconi's critics.

"No other country would tolerate the violations that Berlusconi exercises openly, every day," long-time Italian journalist Furio Colombo told Deutsche Welle.

He and others have recently founded a new Italian paper called Il Fatto Quotidiano (The Daily Fact) to provide what he says will be unbiased criticism of Italian politics. Colombo says what's lacking in Italy is a critical public - a void Berlusconi has risen to fill. Colombo adds that anyone questioning Italy's lack of media freedom need only look to the prime minister's constant self-aggrandizing statements, which always get published.

"He keeps going around saying that he's the best prime minister, that he's the best in the world," Colombo said. "Such strange statements can only be made in a strange country with no more freedom of press."

Admittedly, Berlusconi has never been known for his modesty. But at least half of the country doesn't seem to mind, acknowledging that they're attracted by their leader's charisma. Now, as part of an effort to counter what his supporters say are vicious attacks on Berlusconi, several adoring songs have been composed for him that are played at rallies and on TV shows.

"There's a president who's always present; we're here for you, heart and spirit, one voice, Silvio the great!" go the lyrics to one such song.

Comparisons to Mussolini

The songs have triggered comparisons to Fascist leaders such as Mussolini. But Italian political history professor Giovanni Orsina says it's unfair to see Berlusconi's huge charismatic appeal wholly as a hallmark of fascism. And unlike many who are critical of Berlusconi, Orsina's main concern isn't about press freedom.

"I'm not saying there isn't a problem," he said. "There is an imbalance, absolutely. But if you want to have the views of the opposition parties on TV, you could get that. The main problem is that the opposition parties are so unsuccessful in articulating a clear view - even when it comes to deciding which of their members should be the one to speak! Now that's a major problem. Right now, we have no alternative. Berlusconi is the political system."

But if he wants that to continue, Berlusconi has to win some major upcoming battle. Some involve challenges within his coalition. But others are legal. Italy's Constitutional Court will soon rule on whether a law he passed last year granting full judicial immunity to himself and other top leaders is constitutional. If the court repeals the law, Berlusconi will likely face serious corruption charges. For their part, his critics are hoping that such charges will bring down the man they say is silencing dissent in Italy.

Megan Williams (dc)
Editor: Rob Turner