Berlusconi-style media dominance dubbed ‘dangerous for press freedom’

By David Cronin

Date: 15/01/04

EU LEGISLATION is needed to prohibit politicians from gaining major commercial interests in media outlets, according to journalists' organizations that probed Silvio Berlusconi's dominant position in Italian broadcasting.

In a hard-hitting report, Raffaele Fiengo, a member of the editorial committee of Milan-based daily Corriere della Sera, is quoted as saying that Italy is being "polluted" by the alleged clash of interests between the premier's political work and his commercial undertakings.

Fiengo was one of 16 media and political figures who met a delegation from journalists' unions on a fact-finding mission to Italy in November.

The delegation concluded that a law introduced by Communications Minister Maurizio Gasparri is "potentially dangerous for pluralism and press freedom".

Although the bill won the backing of the national parliament, President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi refused to sign it into law on 16 December. Under its terms, a firm may take control of up to 20% of the media, information and communication sector. Critics of the legislation believe it would allow Berlusconi's company Mediaset to expand its activities.

• Italy's highest court has ruled illegal a law giving Berlusconi immunity from prosecution while in his post of prime minister. His trial on corruption charges - frozen by the law in June prior to Italy taking over the EU's rotating presidency - may therefore now resume in Milan.

A report by Raffaele Fiengo, a member of the editorial committee of Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, says that Italy is being 'polluted' by the alleged clash between President Silvio Berlusconi's political work and his commercial interests.