Campaign starts for Italian poll

By Vaiju Naravane

PARIS, APRIL 14. Italy's campaign for legislative elections to be held on May 13 kicked off on Friday with the media magnate, Mr. Silvio Berlusconi (with a personal fortune estimated at $12 billions), sending a colour biography of himself to 21 million families who make up the nation's 49 million electors. The cost of the operation is estimated at a staggering $75 millions.

Mr. Berlusconi heads the right wing Freedom House alliance, bringing together his own Forza Italia party, the Allianza Nationale, the now reformed Italian Fascist Party (MSI) and the discredited anti-foreigner Northern League led by the maverick politician, Mr. Umberto Bossi. Opinion polls place Mr. Berlusconi firmly in the lead by between 6 to 20 points.

The left wing Olive Tree Alliance composed of several small and big parties and the Greens is led by Mr. Francesco Rutelli, the young and good-looking former mayor of Rome. Mr Rutelli has few friends within his own political family and both the Prime Minister, Mr. Giuliano Amato, respected former professor of economics, and the former Prime Minister, Mr. Massimo D'Alema, have not been tender towards him.

Last Thursday, the three leaders appeared together for the first time to mobilise voters from the Left. Mr. Amato has made some crushing comments about Mr. Rutelli's opportunism and lack of intelligence while Mr. D'Alema has maintained a stony silence about the capabilities of Mr. Rutelli who wrested the nomination of the Left wing Alliance with support from the Greens.

This time the communists of the Refounded Communist Party have decided not to join the Olive Tree Alliance. The former anti- corruption judge turned politician, Mr. Antonio Di Pietro, with his Italy of Values party, the former European Human Rights Commissioner, Emma Bonino's political list and the European Democracy party founded by the former Catholic trade union leader, Sergio D'Antoni, have decided to stay away from alliances and run on their own for the 630 seats in the Lower House as well as 315 senatorial seats up for grabs for a five- year term.

Mr. Berlusconi in a carefully prepared campaign has taken the offensive almost immediately. He has denigrated his rival, Mr. Rutelli, calling him a man of straw, a virtual leader and a man for all seasons. Mr. Berlusconi's biography, a richly illustrated, glossy affair, entitled `An Italian Story' paints him as a poor man, albeit gifted with dynamism and a spirit of enterprise, who out of nothing builds one of the biggest media, construction and retailing empires in Europe.

The independent daily La Republica in a scathing editorial today snorted: Only an idiot will believe this fable where angelic entrepreneur, at 30 , miraculously finds enough money to build a television empire.

Mr. Berlusconi's propaganda appears to work, however. We still do not know the origin of his money, his real situation vis a vis the judiciary, what he intends to do in government or how he will resolve his conflicts of interest. With a rain of lira notes, Mr. Berlusconi has once more been able to shift the electoral keel from the field of political reason to that of emotion generated by advertising.

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Section  : International
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