Censorship

Italy's prime minister is reportedly under investigation for corruption, misappropriation and abuse of office. Silvio Berlusconi is accused of trying to pressure the country's broadcasting commission Agcom into keeping talk shows off the air that are critical of him.

The allegations against the prime minister are reportedly based on phone taps by prosecutors investigating political corruption.

Transcripts of one alleged call show that Berlusconi told a member of the Agcom commission to "make a concerted effort to push Rai TV to say: 'Enough, we're shutting everything down.'"

The thorn in the prime minister's side is the talk show AnnoZero on the traditionally pro-opposition Rai Tri channel, which is frequently critical of Berlusconi's politics and ridicules the sex scandals in his private life.

Italian media quote sources close to the investigation which suggest that Berlusconi is formally under investigation for suspected abuse of office.

The prime minister's lawyers, however, have not yet confirmed any such probe and have demanded that prosecutors should inform them about whether or not their famous client was in fact being investigated.

Berlusconi himself said he was "shocked" by reports that his phone line had been tapped. The allegations were "ridiculous and grotesque," he said, adding that as prime minister he should have "the right to speak on the telephone without being overheard, especially without knowing it."

Censorship?

Critics of the prime minster see the incident as yet another example of how billionaire and media tycoon Berlusconi is trying to keep the lid on any criticism directed at him from the media. Furio Colombo is a long-time political commentator and founder of the Italian daily newspaper The Daily Fact. He said the current case was "a perfect equivalent to censorship."

Colombo said Berlusconi has a long history of using his position in government to promote his business interests and to prevent any debate about his political leadership from reaching the airwaves or the front pages.

"He wants to suppress, to block any reports that stir the attention, the interest or the judgement of the citizens. He wants to make sure that nothing will be published that will damage the power of the prime minister."

Controversy over phone tapping

The investigation has also triggered another bitter debate in Italy over the use of phone tapping. Berlusconi's center-right coalition has drafted a law to limit its use by magistrates investigating crimes. The country's leading magistrates say the reforms are designed to protect those in power.

"The Italian justice system and political power have been in conflict for some time now," said Milan investigative magistrate Armando Spataro.

"Criticism and proposed reforms, therefore, haven't been made in the public interest, but often to protect the interests of politicians who are accused of crimes."

Spataro warned that Berlusconi's continued attack on wiretapping will mean fewer checks on power abuses and eliminate the most effective weapon against crime.

"We risk no longer being able to make any more progress against crime. Not just against terrorism and the mafia, but also political corruption."

Berlusconi insisted in a national radio broadcast that he was not worried about the content of the phone taps of his conversations with the media watchdog member. He said, as prime minister, he had the right to speak on the phone with anybody without being recorded.

The controversy is the latest to hit Berlusconi ahead of regional elections on March 28-29. Only last weekend, tens of thousands marched in Rome to protest against their prime minister.

Author: Megan Williams/ai
Editor: Susan Houlton