The PDL demonstrates in Rome, but without the ministers. Under the direction of Denis Verdini and Daniela Santanchè, the People of Freedom met at 18 pm in via del Plebiscito, in front of the Roman home of Silvio Berlusconi. The goal is to loudly ask that the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, grant pardon to the Knight, definitively convicted Thursday of tax fraud. The same request will be made officially by Brunetta and Schifani, who should be received tomorrow at the Quirinale, where today the Head of State will return after his holidays in Alto Adige. The two group leaders will bring the threat of resignation by all Pidiellini parliamentarians.
In the meantime, for tonight's demonstration "500 coaches will arrive in Rome - reads a note from the PDL -, because thousands and thousands of applications for membership from citizens, voters and militants are asking to be able to express their solidarity with President Silvio Berlusconi, claiming the right to freedom and the restoration of democracy".
For his part, Prime Minister Enrico Letta has made it known that he will "carefully evaluate what will happen to the PDL demonstration" and the "tones" that will be used. But at the same time he asked that the Quirinale be "kept out of political tensions" and "stop bringing it into play in an improper and blackmailing way". And if there really won't be any PDL ministers in via del Plebiscito, it will probably be precisely to prevent the Democratic Party from deciding to immediately open the government crisis. In any case, the rift between hawks and doves within the PDL itself is becoming more evident every day and yesterday evening the news of the ministers' absence annoyed Maurizio Gasparri and many others.
The latest to ignite the climate was Sandro Bondi: "Either the political viability of the leader of the largest Italian party is made possible - he said - or Italy really risks a form of civil war with unpredictable outcomes for everyone". Words defined as "irresponsible" by Colle.
