IS THE wave of political unrest gripping the Mediterranean about to hit Italy? Such thoughts are probably far-fetched, but what is for sure is that, starting as of yesterday, Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi (74) has managed to make himself a new enemy by arousing the Sleeping Beautythat is Italian feminism.
More than a million women in 230 cities around Italy and in another 30 capitals around the world took to the streets yesterday, inspired by the slogan: “If Not Now, When?” The obvious target was Mr Berlusconi, accused of having shamed Italy and Italian women through his involvement in the “Rubygate” sex scandal.
It was yet another day out for the anti-Berlusconi camp. At a sunny Piazza Del Popolo in central Rome, a range of home-made placards spelt it out, loud and clear: “Kick Him Out”, “Big Chief Flaccid Ass, Resign”, “Women Do It Better” and “Berlusconi, U Are Unworthy, Resign” were just some of the offerings.
Shortly after 2.30pm, the packed square observed a minute's silence, finally broken by a "liberating cry of indignation" as, to the strains of Patti Smith's People Have the Power, the crowd exclaimed Basta!(Enough is Enough). As the piazza cheered, a huge banner was unfurled on the Pincio hill above the square, saying: "We Want A Country That Respects Women."
There followed a meeting which reflected the “across the house” political spread of this seemingly spontaneous, non party-political movement. In succession, a trade unionist, Catholic nun, actress, writer and a right-wing lawyer (but no party leader) addressed the packed square.
The message was perhaps best communicated by right-wing deputy Giulia Bongiorno of the Liberty and Freedom party: “If I was here today just to criticise the sexy parties [in the prime minister’s private residences], then you could just say that I am an old prude moralist.
“But what strikes me . . . is the extent to which the sexy parties become a criterion for selecting the ruling class, the extent to which the private becomes public, the fact that a woman’s erotic attraction turns out to be the qualification that earns you a job that really should be for someone else.”
Could it be that even “our Silvio” has made himself one enemy too many this time?