Italians in London protest against Berlusconi

Hundreds of people gathered on Saturday 5 December in Belgrave Square, near the Italian General Consulate in London, to demand that Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi step down.

The demonstration, named “No Berlusconi day,” was the English counterpart of a bigger protest that simultaneously took place in Rome and was organised by a group of bloggers using social networks such as Twitter and Facebook.

Italians living in London vented their anger at the current political situation in their home country and claimed they were not represented by Mr Berlusconi. The protest was not backed by any specific political party and encompassed people of different beliefs.

Purple was the colour chosen to express citizens’ disappointment with the current political mayhem in Italy. The participants chanted “Dimettiti! Dimettiti!” (“Resign! Resign!”), while some others screamed “Thief!” or “You’re a clown!” Others booed Mr Berlusconi as images of his reaction to the declaration of unconstitutionality of the so-called Alfano Law earlier in October, which granted impunity for the four main offices of the State during their mandate, were shown on a big screen.

The main points of the debate were the need of equality of all citizens before the law, the urge for freedom of information in Italy, and the call for the politics caring about the public instead of their personal interests in the management of the State.

First Pinters Daniele Fisichella, Paola Bonfanti and Anna Pitton spoke to several of the protesters. Watch the report at the bottom of this post.

Seeking Chances Abroad

Many students and young people at the demonstration expressed their views on Italian’s political situation. Not only were they dissatisfied with Mr Berlusconi, but they said the whole political class is not offering a valid alternative.

The disappointment of Italians living in London is sharpened by the image of their homeland abroad. A 20-year-old student at the Metropolitan College of London decided to come to England right after high-school because he felt that in Italy he didn’t have a chance to succeed.

“People here think that Italy is a fun-fair and mock Berlusconi,” he said. “Italians abroad struggle to show their real value when they’re ruled by a clown.”

Film director Giacomo Mantovani left Italy annoyed by what he called the “culture of acquaintances, so that if you don’t know the right people you won’t make it.” The lack of a merit system and defined career paths were major factors in Italians’ decision to leave their country.

This week’s issue of The Economist dedicated an editorial to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi by the headline “Time to say addio”, where “addio” means “goodbye for good”. In the past few months the Italian premier has been involved in several scandals, including most recent allegations of collusion with mafia in 1993 and involvement with call-girl Patrizia D’Addario.

Live from the protest, by Daniele Fisichella, Paola Bonfanti and Anna Pitton: