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Berlusconi: "Italy is for White people only"

by Open-Publishing - Thursday 30 March 2006
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Discriminations-Minorit. Governments Italy

Berlusconi Warns Against Multiculturalism

By ALESSANDRA RIZZO, Associated Press Writer Tue Mar 28, 10:04 AM

ROME - Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he does not want Italy to become a multiethnic, multicultural country, drawing plaudits from a right-wing ally and criticism from center-left opponents.

Berlusconi, a conservative, faces a stiff challenge in next month’s national election, with opinion polls putting him behind his opponent, former premier Romano Prodi.

The poor economy, a main worry for voters in this election, has fed concerns about immigration by right-wing parties in Berlusconi’s coalition, although the kind of work usually done by immigrants is shunned by many Italians. Surveys show that some Italians also perceive immigrants as being linked to crime.

"We don’t want Italy to become a multiethnic, multicultural country. We are proud of our traditions," Berlusconi said Monday on state-run radio.

Berlusconi’s government has put in place a tough immigration policy, including legislation cracking down on illegal immigration. The 2002 law allows only immigrants with job contracts to obtain residency permit.

"We want to open (our borders) to foreigners who flee countries where their lives or liberties are at risk," said Berlusconi, adding those who come to Italy to work also are welcome. "We don’t want to welcome all those who come here to bring about damage and danger to Italian citizens."

Thousands of illegal immigrants come to Italy every year, mostly crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa on rickety boats. The latest group of more than 200 landed Monday on Lampedusa, a tiny island off Sicily.

Most immigrants, if they elude police, move on to other European countries.

The Northern League, a right-wing anti-immigrant party, welcomed Berlusconi’s remarks.

"Here’s the Berlusconi we want," said Roberto Calderoli, a Northern League leader who was forced to quit as reforms minister last month after he wore a T-shirt on state TV decorated with caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. "Our values, our identity, our history, our traditions" must be defended against immigration, the Italian news agency ANSA quoted him as saying.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060328/ap_on_re_eu/italy_immigration

Forum posts

  • I THINK THE ’MAFIA’ IS DOING A FINE JOB OF "BRINGING DAMAGE AND DANGER TO ITALIAN CITIZENS." WHO NEEDS IMMIGRANTS?
    BILLIONAIRES SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS, DON’T THEY?

  • By making the rules more stringent, Berlusconi is simply ensuring that an ever-increasing percentage of immigrants will be illegal, and that ever more of them will be forced to turn to crime to ensure survival. If he is as right-wing as they say, the resulting chaos is probably his true aim. Compare what he says/does to "leaders" like Bush and Blair, and you will see what I mean.

  • Be that as it may, at least he is more honest that what America says and does to it’s imigrants.