Sicilian Culture: News & Views

Italian Foreign Minister Resigns Over Euro Debate
From www.italy-news.net

Italian foreign minister Renato Ruggiero, one of the strongest pro-European voices in premier Silvio Berlusconi's center-right administration, resigned yesterday. The official announcement came after a meeting at Palazzo Chigi between Mr. Ruggiero and Mr. Berlusconi's close aide and advisor, Giani Letta, who had just returned from a summit meeting with the prime minister in Sardinia. The statement read that, after discussing the events of the past few days, including articles in the press related to the future of Europe, "both parties agreed to end the government collaboration which both agreed had been important, useful, and, above all, positive." Mr. Ruggiero assured the government of his full collaboration, and the prime minister thanked minister Ruggiero "most warmly for the work he carried out on behalf of the country, and most of all for what he did when the government came into office to help its international image."

OPPOSITION ACCUSES PRIME MINISTER OF GIVING IN TO HIS RIGHT- WING COALITION MEMBERS
Opposition leader Francesco Rutelli criticized the prime minister's handling of the falling-out with foreign minister Renato Ruggiero, characterizing the foreign minister's resignation as "a disastrous government crisis that greatly damages Italy's international reputation." Mr. Rutelli accused Mr. Berlusconi of giving in to the whims of reforms minister Umberto Bossi and economy minister Giulio Tremonti, two cabinet members who have openly criticized Mr. Ruggiero in the past. "Instability dominates in a coalition that is already starting to crumble," the center-left leader stated, "but when foreign policy is the point of contention, there is not much to rejoice about." Piero Fassino, the head of the largest opposition party, Democratici di Sinistra (Left Democrats, DS), stated that Mr. Ruggiero's resignation was "a severe blow to the prestige and credibility of Italy" and held the governing center-right coalition responsible for the failure to retain its foreign minister. "Mr. Ruggiero's departure is so much the worse," he said, "because his presence reassured the international community of Italy's political continuity in Europe and the world."

HOUSE FOREIGN AFFAIRS CHAIR CALLS RUGGIERO'S POSITION UNTENABLE
Gustavo Selva, a deputy of the National Alliance, AN (Alleanza Nazionale) party and chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, stated that foreign minister Renato Ruggiero's position had become "untenable." Mr. Selva confirmed to the press that coalition members of the Casa della Liberta' (House of Freedom) had lost faith in the foreign minister. The right-wing politician pointed out that Mr. Ruggiero did not accept or understand that it is the prime minister who is the final arbiter of foreign policy decisions and accused Mr. Ruggiero of taking an individualist's stance without consulting with Premier Silvio Berlusconi. He added, "Maybe Mr. Ruggiero wants to become a martyr, or maybe he has other secret reasons to create a way out." However, it may be, Mr. Selva concluded, "he certainly played into the hands of the center-left opposition and helped them in their campaign of attacking our administration."

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