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An open letter to Silvio BerlusconiJul 30th 2003 | From The Economist online
Silvio BerlusconiPresidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri
Palazzo Chigi370 Piazza ColonnaRome 00187
July 30th 2003
Dear Mr Berlusconi,
I am writing to you to pose questions that I believe the public has a right to hear the answers
to. As this can no longer occur through the Italian courts, such questions should be posedand answered in public.
On June 18th, the Italian parliament approved a bill to grant immunity from criminal trials to
the holders of the five highest offices of state, including the president and prime minister. Itis now a law. The law applies even if a trial started before the office-holder was elected. Thenew law’s most immediate effect is that the one remaining criminal trial in which you are
involved —the SME case, in which you are accused of bribing judges—has been suspendeduntil you are no longer prime minister. Even then, the trial will start again only if you werenot elected to one of the other offices that benefits from the immunity. But the law is being
challenged in the constitutional court.
On April 28th 2001, we published a cover story entitled “Why Silvio Berlusconi is unfit tolead Italy” and a four-page investigation “An Italian story”. We sent you a letter on April 11th
2001, containing 51 questions, that stated: “The Economist intends to publish shortly afeature on your business career and on the various investigations into you and yourcompanies that have been carried out by the Italian magistracy during the last seven years”.You did not reply.
On May 2nd 2001, you filed a writ for defamation against The Economist in the Rome court.As you will know, this court has not yet ruled on your suit.
In light of the above, we are writing to you by way of open letter and challenge you toanswer our further set of questions in a similar open, public fashion. Our letter comprises sixsections as follows:
1. The SME affair
2. Your spontaneous declarations
3. The smearing of Romano Prodi
4. Your gold medal claim
5. Your other trials
6. Your early business career
We look forward to your reply
Yours sincerely
Bill Emmott
Editor
The Economist
Related Items
From The EconomistAbout our open letter to Italy's prime minister Jul 31st 20031. The SME affair Jul 31st 20032. Your spontaneous declarations Jul 31st 20033. The smearing of Romano Prodi Jul 31st 20034. Your gold medal claim Jul 31st 20035. Your other trials Jul 31st 20036. Your early business career Jul 31st 2003Berlusconi: an Italian storyApr 26th 2001Fit to run Italy? Apr 26th 2001
Country briefingItaly
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An open letter to Silvio Berlusconi | The Economist http://www.economist.com/world/displaystory.cfm?story_id=E...
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