Berlusconi embroiled in public row
April 23rd, 2010 - 6:20 pm ICT by IANSRome, April 23 (IANS/AKI) The rivalry between Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and the speaker of the lower house exploded in a public row, when the prime minister asked Gianfranco Fini to resign, while the latter called on him to allow more debate within the party.
“Political statements aren’t supposed to come from people who head non-partisan institutions,” Berlusconi said to Fini Thursday at a People of Liberty party meeting in here.
Fini, who was sitting in the front row, was caught by television cameras saying, “What are you going to do, sack me?”
When Berlusconi took the podium, Fini stood up and interrupted his speech while shaking his finger at the premier.
“I have no intention of resigning as president of the lower house, let alone leaving the party,” Fini said.
Fini had merged his National Alliance party with the premier’s Forza Italia in 2008.
“I do not want to create a movement to win more power, I want only to express my other ideas, I am asking for a chance to talk about it,” Fini said.
“I don’t want to engage in controversy, I am not looking for power, but there is a risk that we are passing from democratic centralism to charismatic centralism,” he said.
–IANS/AKI
pm/vt
- Berlusconi wants removal of Italy's parliament speaker - Sep 08, 2010
- Berlusconi says he will call it quits as PM in 2013 - Dec 24, 2010
- Berlusconi foes to pull out of government - Nov 13, 2010
- Berlusconi calls for sobriety - Nov 24, 2010
- 55 percent Italians want Berlusconi to go - Jul 21, 2010
- Berlusconi an embarrassment to Italy, says former deputy - Nov 02, 2010
- Berlusconi won't run for re-election in 2013 - Apr 14, 2011
- Berlusconi says he won't stand for re-election - Nov 09, 2011
- Civil war breaks out in Italian Government - Sep 09, 2009
- Government will complete its term: Italy PM - Sep 14, 2010
- Berlusconi to take over AC Milan from daughter - Feb 17, 2012
- Berlusconi to release his song album Tuesday - Nov 20, 2011
- Clooney, Ronaldo witnesses in Berlusconi sex trial? - Nov 24, 2011
- Italy not to bomb Libya, says Berlusconi - Apr 16, 2011
- My father won't quit: Berlusconi's daughter - Oct 07, 2011
Tags: alliance party, controversy, democratic centralism, forza italia, front row, gianfranco fini, institutions, intention, italian prime minister, liberty party, national alliance, podium, political statements, prime minister silvio, prime minister silvio berlusconi, risk, rivalry, rome, silvio berlusconi, television cameras