The Fate of ex-Dictators?

And so, as sure as the Seasons change, the centre-left government has started talking about reforming Italy’s Television regulations. At the same time they are talking about new improved conflict-of-interest regulations. Both of which moves will allegedly bring to an end the long-standing anomaly of a system that has allowed a media magnate to become Prime Minister.

Just how far Prodi’s government will wish, or be able, to go with these reforms remains to be seen. After all the centre-left parties, for all their harping on about Berlusconi’s media power, have done little in the past to curb political influence in the media.

There’s a priceless interview in La Repubblica, though, that caught this Monkey’s eye, with Fedele Confalonieri, the President of Mediaset, the Berlusconi founded and controlled media group. Talking angrily about the mooted reforms, Confalonieri said, and I quote:

“At the moment I’m in the car three hundred metres from Piazzale Loreto [in Milan, where Mussolini was hanged in 1945], which seems to me to be an almost fateful coincidence. Once kings and dictators were hung up by their feet. Berlusconi’s Piazzale Loreto risks being the dismantling of his television, instead of hanging up by his feet they want to strip away his TV.”

Hmm – Kings and Dictators. And this coming, without irony, from one of Berlusconi’s most trusted lieutenants. Need we say any more? Roll on media regulation and a serious law on conflicts of interest.

Posted by 3Monkeys at

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