Reply #1: Berlusconi wins vote on wiretaps [View All]

Berlusconi wins vote on wiretaps
By Guy Dinmore in Rome

Published: June 11 2010 01:52 | Last updated: June 11 2010 01:52

Amid stormy scenes in Italy’s senate, Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right government on Thursday rammed through a bill that would restrict the use of police wiretaps and punish editors and journalists who run transcripts. The bill was passed in the senate on a vote of confidence that cut short debate on amendments. The text, which the prime minister says will not be modified, moves next week to the lower house where the ruling coalition has a large majority.

Senators belonging to the main opposition Democratic party walked out, refusing to vote, and members of the small Italy of Values party had to be evicted after occupying government benches. Anna Finocchiaro, senate leader for the Democrats, called the bill a “massacre for liberty” and denounced the government for hiding what she called its private use of public money while treating the public as a “blind flock of sheep”.

The government says the law is needed to protect privacy. Last month the leaking of intercepts linked to an investigation into suspected corruption in the awarding of state contracts led to the resignation of Claudio Scajola, industries minister. He denied wrongdoing.

Mr Berlusconi too has had his private conversations splashed over the newspapers, most recently when he was overheard by investigating magistrates urging an official of Rai, the state broadcaster, to stop broadcasts of programmes attacking his government.

More:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/13cbb22c-74b5-11df-aed7-00144feabdc0.html