Ango-Saxon leaders in Italy

Guż Bonett’s letter Italian Checks And Balances (January 13), wherein he states that “Italy had no weak-kneed Chamberlain or a too strong-willed Iron Lady”, is extremely rich both in the title and the comment, coming from an admirer of the land whose politics and society produced such giants of democracy as Benito Mussolini and Silvio Berlusconi, who both, to put it mildly, despised the concept of checks and balances, which is the essence of democracy.

Both were elected by their fellow countrymen. Mussolini became a dictator (“benign” according to Mr Berlusconi). At least, he made the trains run on time but eventually carried Italy to destruction. Decades later, Mr Berlusconi, more interested in ad personam laws and bunga-bunga than in trains that run on time, steered his country to the very brink of a Greek-style economic and financial abyss.

Thanks to the Anglo-Saxon world’s system of checks and balances, the rise of any American or British version of Mussolini or Berlusconi is always prevented. A US President owning CBS or NBC or a British Prime Minister owing ITV or Sky is an impossibility.

It is refreshing that now, thanks to the highly respected Anglophile Giorgio Napolitano (“King George” as nicknamed by The New York Times), Italy has Mario Monti as Prime Minister. Prof. Monti has been described by La Repubblica as “one of the most Anglo-Saxon of Italy’s public figures”. Corriere della Sera said his calm manner and discretion made him seem almost British and described him as a “rigorous custodian” of public interests.

I believe that for Italy’s sake “Meno male che Giorgio e Mario ci sono”.