The View from Bologna

Singing from the same hymn sheet - the signing of the European Constitution.

The signing of the European Constitution by 25 heads of state, amidst plomp and splendour, in Rome today, was a historic occasion. If this Monkey were in any doubt of that fact Italian TV put him to rights. The blitzkrieg started in earnest last night with all news channels and Bruno Vespa's fawning current affairs programme Porta a Porta focussing in on the spectacle. It continued with live coverage from 9.30am this morning, providing for viewing pleasure on a par with a British Royal wedding.

And what have we learned from this extensive coverage? Well, we've learned, repeatedly, that Italy has played its part in Europe since the signing of the Treaty of Rome in 1957. We've learned that the leaders of Europe dined on, amongst other things, roast beef and artichokes alla romana, with grated fennel and potatoes. We noticed, while it was unspoken, that Romano Prodi was seated far away from Silvio Berlusconi, and we learned that the Constitution has been signed by 25 leaders of Europe.

Everything was determinedly upbeat and 'historic'. Media watchers might have hoped for some Berlusconi gaff to liven things up, but even Silvio seemed to be singing from the same scripted hymn sheet - going so far as to quote Erasmus (a first for Berlusconi we would venture).

What we didn't hear much of were the comments of outgoing European Commissioner Mario Monti, who said last week in relation to the European Constitution, that in his opinion it should be made clear that " who ever doesn't want to enter into the second Treaty of Rome(2004) will leave the first Treaty of Rome (1957)". While these comments have no legal force, they do highlight the problem for the European Constitution. Technically it needs to be ratified by all countries, which may not happen where countries have an obligation to put the matter to referendum. Should they be allowed to hold up European 'progress'?

Berlusconi's position on this is clear. He would like the Italian Government to be "the first to ratify the treaty". The position of his coalition members is not so clear, or rather it is clear but contrary to the Berlusconi vision. The Lega Nord, coalition partners are demanding a referendum. In an odd turn of events Berlusconi and his main opponent Romano Prodi, along with Piero Fassino (Secretary of Democratici di Sinistra one of the main opposition parties) and Gianfranco Fini are all described by La Repubblica as being set against a referendum. The fact that these political opponents agree on something must give anyone pause for thought.

At the same time we heard little about the ongoing problems with the proposed European Commission, despite Rocco Buttiglione and Berlusconi's closeness to the issue. Also off the agenda were issues such as the place of God in the Constitution, the controversial membership negotiations with Turkey, or any mention about defense policies, or 'peace keeping' as the military actions in Iraq are described officialy in Italy.

This Monkey doesn't wish to rain on anyone's parade, nor does he wish for a moment to be considered a reflexive Euro-sceptic. He does think however that rather than rushing on a bureaucratic imperative to ratify the constitution, we all, as citizens of Europe, have a right to know what this Constitution means. What does it mean for a European Foreign policy? What does it mean for Immigration policies? What does it mean for voting rights for individual member countries?

And, most importantly, what does it mean for member states who, through referenda, democratically vote against the ratification?

[1] "chi non vorrà il Trattato di Roma II del 2004, uscirà anche dal Trattato di Roma I del 1957". La Repubblica

Fighting Fundamentalism. The sad case of Rocco Buttiglione.

"Fight the Taliban in Brussels" the giant poster urged, in the grounds of the Catholic University of Milan, in reaction to the Rocco Buttiglione case that dominated the headlines this week. The poster was put up, in support of Mr Buttiglione, by the Comunione e Liberazione movement (CL), which advocates active participation in politics on the part of Italy's majority Catholic population. The opposition to Buttiglione's candidature for the Justice, Freedom and Security Commission by members of the European Parliament has brought out a stream of Euro-scepticism and paranoia rarely seen outside certain British Conservative circles.

Buttiglione's own position, as reported by La Repubblica, was that he was a victim of an "anti-Berlusconi" lobby, that "considers Berlusconi's ministers unsuitable to work in the area of Justice"[1]. Not such a strange postition to hold, this Monkey would contend, considering Berlusconi's Government's continuous manipulation of the law, and attacks on the independence of the Judiciary in Italy.

Berlusconi meanwhile was confused and hurt that his proposed Commisioner could be seen as incapable. In one of his trademark soundbites, perfectly crafted to confuse the issue, he said that the whole affair smacked to him of "fundamentalism"[2].

Buttiglione's position on Gays ("A moral disorder")[3] has certainly been one of the reasons that his candidature has been frowned upon. His admission that "I may think morally that homosexuality is wrong, but this has no effect on politics, unless I say homosexuality is a crime"[4], failed to impress many, particularly when it's taken into account that Buttiglione argued strongly to remove an amendment to the European Constitution's charter of rights protecting citizens from discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.

Buttiglione, who is considered a close friend of Pope John Paul II, has received support from, amongst others, Mirko Tremaglia of Alleanza Nazionale, who commented "Buttiglione has lost. Poor Europe, the queers are in the majority"[5]. Tremaglia is a Government Minister.

While Buttiglione's Catholic outlook has grabbed the headlines, there are a number of other significant reasons for his rejection by a coalition of Greens, Communists and Socialists (Mr Berlusconi's nightmare!), not least of which is a firm rebuke to Berlusconi for his removal of the widely respected Competition Commisioner, Mario Monti. Berlusconi had initially asked Monti to relinquish his post to become Finance Minister in the current government. Monti declined, and allegedly received a verbal agreement from Berlusconi that he would be put forward for the new Commission in order to continue work that has seen him investigate and censure corporate giants such as Microsoft*. Instead, Buttiglione, to appease one of the Government coalition partners, the UDC party, has been put forward.

There have been question marks over Buttiglione's capabilities from a practical point of view, as well as from an ethical standpoint. Baroness Sarah Lundford, MEP said "Not only does he lack enthusiasm and knowledge for the job, but he also failed to convince that he could be a champion of fundamental freedoms or civil liberties or even effective security cooperation."[6]

So, what is this securedly secular Monkey's view on the sad case of Rocco Buttiglione? Are we facing discrimination and anti-catholic fundamentalism? Or, as Comunione e Liberazione suggests on its website in relation to this crisis, have "we arrived at a point where, on the pretext of defending the possibility of all to express their own relative truth, a cultural totalitarianism is being introduced that denies the freedom of conscience, thought and opinion"[7]?

It's refreshing to see the Catholic Church strongly coming out in favour of freedom of conscience, thought and opinion but let's not get ahead of ourselves. What is being discussed here is Mr Buttiglione's right to hold an office where he can make choices that actively discriminate against citizens of Europe, whose sexual preferences he disagrees with. If Buttiglione were heavily bearded and clutching a Koran instead of a Bible, we'd see a very different attitude. CL supporters got it right when they talked about the dangers of a Talibanic Fundamentalism in Brussels, and that is precisely why this Monkey thinks that Mr Buttiglione is unfit for office.

[1]"lobby che considera indegni i ministri di Berlusconi di occuparsi di giustizia" - La Repubblica Tuesday 12th October
[2]"si è trattato di un voto integralista e oscurantista." - Rai News
[3]"Possono giudicarmi intollerante ma io ho il diritto di definire l'omosessualità come un disordine morale" - La Repubblica Tuesday 12th October
[4]The Times - Thursday 14th of October
[5]"Purtroppo Buttiglione ha perso. Povera Europa: i culattoni sono in maggioranza" Corriere della Sera Wednesday 13th October
[6]Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP
[7] "Siamo arrivati al punto in cui, con il pretesto di difendere la possibilità di tutti a professare la propria relativa verità, si sta introducendo un totalitarismo culturale che nega libertà di coscienza, pensiero e opinione" - CL

*At the same time, the new commissioner proposed is Neelie Kroes of the Netherlands, whose appointment has also caused controversy, as she has held several directorships with US and European companies, including mmO2 who are being investigated by the Commissioner's office.

The Patron Saint of a defensive pre-emptive war? St. Francis and Fini.

The words of The Intelligent Face of Fascism (Gianfranco Fini), have sent this secular Monkey, not without a certain amount of indignation, scrambling towards the Catholic Encylopedia. TIFOF, speaking at the annual celebration of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, in Assisi, the city of Peace, took the opportunity to take back the symbol of St. Francis from the grubby hands of the pacifists.

"As with poverty, peace for him was a means rather than an end, and a means at the service of the common good. The proof of this is the fact that he never condemned legitimate defense, of either the individual or the community"[1]TIFOF trumpeted while around him various Franciscan monks shifted uncomfortably.

Indeed, the "famous third rule" of the Fransican Order, issued in 1228 states "The brothers will not carry armes, except for the defence of the Roman Church, the Christian Faith, or their lands, or with the permission of their Superiors".

The problem with TIFOF's astute analysis, though, as author Chiara Frugoni points out in today's editon of La Repubblica, is that it's based on a document that "has nothing to do with St. Francis...In 1228 the Saint had been dead for two years". A minor oversight. In fact, as Frugoni, the author of an authoratitive work on the life of St. Francis, points out "In none of the rules from St. Francis, either with or without Papal imprinture, did he ever talk about arms". Still, as we've seen from the States, it's the searching for arms that's important rather than the finding of them.

Obviously TIFOF's remarks have caused widespread controversy and discussion. This Monkey sides partially with Director Franco Zeffirelli, who, as pompously as ever, lost his patience with the whole debate as to whether St. Francis would wave the rainbow coloured flag of Pace or would join AN's brand of "Pacifiers". Frankly he opined "it's vulgar to attempt to place St. Francis in a current political context".

Why then would the ever reserved leader of Alleanza Nazionale pursue such a vulgarity? Well, having clarified, erroneously, that St. Francis would have reached for the nearest sword in order to protect the Christian faith, he continued "This just definition of 'Peace' is ever more important in the present day, bloodied by every type of conflict, in which liberty and security must be defended, by those in uniform, for the greater good".[3]

Last word on the matter goes to Italian Nobel prize winner Dario Fo, who said that, given Fini's vision of St. Francis, when the famous encounter of Francis and the wolf of Gubbio occured, rather than calling to "Brother Wolf" to lay down by his side, Francis (the Pacifier) would have defensively slain the beast...

[1]"anche la pace era da lui desiderata come un mezzo, non come un fine, e come un mezzo al servizio del bene comune. Lo riprova il fatto ch’egli non condannò mai la legittima difesa, sia del singolo che della comunità." - Source Alleanza Nazionale

[2]"I fratelli non portino con sé armi offensive, se non per difesa della Chiesa Romana, della fede cristiana, o anche della loro terra, o con il permesso dei loro ministri". - Source Alleanza Nazionale

[3]"Questa giusta nozione di pace è quanto mai importante in un’epoca come l’attuale, insanguinata da conflitti di ogni tipo, ed in cui la libertà e la sicurezza devono essere difese ogni giorno da chi, in divisa, è al servizio del bene comune." - SourceAlleanza Nazionale