As the troubles of the European Union continue to create mayhem across the continent, there is news from Italy which is calculated to send shivers down the spines of anyone who believes in democracy and justice.
Just a day after being found guikty of tax fraud and sentenced to a year in prison, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is apparently now threatening to withdraw his political party from the coalition which is currently in charge thus bringing down the government of his country. This is, of course, the same Silvio Berlusconi who is also in court on charges relating to a variety of sexual offences that occurred during his so-called 'Bunga Bunga' parties while he was in office.
Is it any wonder that both Italy and Europe are in such a mess when people such as this are in positions of great power and influence ? In the UK, the Conservative Chief Whip resigned because, in essence, he swore at a policeman; one or 2 of our representatives have gone to prison, and lost their jobs, for making false expenses claims; in the past, John Profumo resigned because of an affair with a prostitute and others have sufferred similar fates after committing sexual indiscretions; Charles Kennedy resigned as leader of the Liberal Democrats because he drank too much.
How can it be that in the UK we seem to be so sensitive while in Italy Mr Berlusconi not only hasn't resigned but is still in a position to bring down the government ? Not only is this unbelievable but it's also an indicator as to how far some countries need to progress in order to become truly democratic. Until they do, the UK would be well advised to give them, and the EU, a very wide berth indeed.
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