Reporting Italy

'Riot breaks out on streets of Rome as scandal-hit Silvio Berlusconi survives' (the Daily Mail) was just about typical. If you read any of the British, German or French press you will have gained the impression that the rioters, seeing that Berlusconi had survived, took to the streets.

Of course the demonstration was planned some time ago. It was about changes to education policy and cuts to cultural spending.

It is not of particular relevance but I would mention that Italy's education system is a fiasco and almost any change to it would be for the better. In fact Mariastella Gelmini's modest proposals might drag Italy's post primary school education into the 20th century (not the 21st). And the problem with spending on culture is that the money disappears; look at Pompeii: fully funded, money stolen, no expenditure, falling down.

However that is not the point; it is a good thing that students demonstrate. The violence was heavily instituted by non student, often non-Italian professional troublemakers and they would have done that if Silvio had won or lost.

I know Silvio is a bit of  joke; I know most countries wouldn't want him as leader; but the Italians, for the moment, do, and some better reporting in the non-Italian press might give a fairer picture of what is going on.