All’s fair in love and war… and Italian politics

pete quentin, 1 May 2008

As Silvio Berlusconi prepares for strike three as Italy’s Prime Minister, the country’s recently defeated centre-left government has published details of all Italians’ taxable income on the internet, writes Claire Daley. People visiting the Italian tax authority website could snoop through their neighbours’ financial affairs for up-to 24-hours until a formal complaint was lodged.

The out-going Italian government professed that revealing Italy’s intimate assets at this administratively sensitive time, was intended to facilitate transparency. Or, could it have been a bitter farewell and a final show of two fingers to Berlusconi’s incoming government?
Berlusconi promises to boost the Italian economy (which has stagnated for over a decade) and reduce the 1,200bn euro national debt (the biggest in Europe) by lowering taxes and increasing public spending. However, given that tax evasion is practically a national Italian past-time, reform will be a battle. Drawing taxation from Italians is like trying to draw CAP reform from the French.
The out-going government promised to improve taxation so could it be the case that they are, albeit cheekily, employing tactics to ensure the issue remains a priority for Berlusconi’s new government. This approach is similar to poking the succeeding administration with a giant political stick, serving as a firm reminder for Berlusconi that they can pull his trousers down (figuratively speaking) at any time.
However, we must remember that we are talking about Silvio Berlusconi here. Catching him with his trousers suddenly heaped about his ankles might not have the effect the defeated centre-left are hoping for. After all, based on precedent, he is far more likely to capitalise on the limelight by simply shaking his exposed booty in the face of the opposition.