Silvio, the Sexist Septuagenarian

In the face of Italy's growing economic problems, disenchantment with government in general, and politicians in particular; Italian opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi seems to be flippant about the voters' concerns in the coming general elections. Instead, he delights in surrounding himself with glamorous women and then utters an earth shattering statement about female politicians from the right being more beautiful, and the left have no taste in women.

Having a reputation for making outrageous statements, this latest comment raised a howl from the centre-left who called the septuagenarian sexist. Mr. Berlusconi was forced to apologize to his wife last year for flirting with other women after demanding a public one for the humiliation she received. Twenty months out of office and it seems the media mogul turned politician is out to make an amorous comeback, dealing with his flirtations first before the problems that beset the country.

Young Italians have lost all hope of making it out of the family home by 30. The more talented ones talk about "precariousness" in Italy and see no future for themselves. Most have chosen to pack their bags for other countries like France, to take advantage of opportunities there rather than to suffer a life of penury in Italy. In Palermo, old folks talk about the end of La Dolce Vita and lament the rising prices causing people to be in deep debt. Workers are aghast at the absence of raises in salaries due to the difficult economic situation. Retirees find extreme difficulty in stretching their pensions when 60-70% goes to rent, leaving nothing for food. In Sicily and the rest of Southern Italy, about 100,000 young people have left. If the trend continues, only the old people and the mafiosi will be left.

Politicians are seen to help only their friends and those they can profit from. The mozzarella issue and the garbage dumps in Naples have contributed immensely to the collapse of Romano Prodi's fragile centre-left coalition. It was a wide open gap in crisis management knowhow which lost its grip on the faith and confidence of Italians in their suitability to govern. Today, the sweet life that Italians have been so proud of seems to leave a very bad taste in the mouth. And Berlusconi seems to find fulfillment reminding Italians of what they're missing in voting for the left, by showing the decadence of his centre-right lifestyle.

At 71 and trying to overcome the ravages of age in his looks, Berlusconi's projection of virility may be based on his reading of the Italians' natural fondness for romance. He should set his priorities correctly if he is to succeed in anything that would attract Italians to his cause. He may have more difficulties, at his age, to raise the physical requirements of his own virility than to raise the country's economy.

Haaarrrrwwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!

Infidelity with Impunity in Italy

The Italian Judicial system may have opened the flood gates for adultery and spousal infidelity by practically decriminalizing extra-marital affairs for married women. In a ruling by the country's highest appeals court, a married woman is given the leeway to lie about an illicit affair to protect her honor. The Court of Cassation, reversed the conviction of a married woman who gave false testimony about a lover, ruling that she had broken no law; and that bending the truth was justified to conceal extra-marital affairs.

Anyone who has entered into a relationship with an Italian would perhaps confirm that being faithful is not one of their inconspicuous virtues. Or, if they possess this virtue at all. Italians have been painted as persistent suitors and passionate lovers who always want to be near the woman they love. If that's not possible, they pour their love to the nearest woman. A recent survey revealed that 50% of Italians are unfaithful, and looking at an Italian couple, if the man is faithful, then the woman isn't - and vice versa.

The ruling requires clarification if it should also apply to men who have secret mistresses, unless this is taken as a natural occurrence or situation among married men; regardless if the secret lover is male or female. It also raises the issue of lying under oath which erodes the validity of the testimony; to protect her honor which is non-existent, since the marital vows have been broken and the marriage de-sanctified. Certainly, La Dolce Vita is intriguing in Italy, to say the least.

In a Catholic country like Italy, one would expect damnation from the Church and all its lay organizations, and the Justice system would take a negative view of this development. But here, it's truly a license to lie granted by the courts. The Appeals Court has been known to issue controversial rulings in the past, like the rescinded judgment denying the charge of rape since the woman was wearing tight jeans. The contention was it could only be removed with her consent. Protests from women caused the withdrawal of this ruling.

What can be expected to follow? The Catholic church not including adultery as a sin to confess? Or a law that infidelity is tolerated for as long as no child out of wedlock is born? What good is getting married if any one of the spouses can be unfaithful with impunity? There is no saying where this ruling could lead. Avoiding relationships with an Italian is perhaps a good start. Or, if ever, not to expect fidelity. There is reason to believe that fidelity among Italians can only be found in their passions, their clothes, their accessories, their pizza, and their pasta; not necessarily in that order.

Haaaarrrwwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!