A step backwards

Italian magistrates have demanded the arrest of Marco Milanese, a deputy of the ruling party and principal adviser to Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti, who is accused of corrupt practices.

Unfortunately Mr Milanese cannot be arrested without the approval of Parliament, and the Majority have voted against releasing him to be tried.

I have written before that the Italian people are losing faith in their governing class, La Casta, and this is going to exacerbate the matter even further. Demonstrators outside the Parliament building wanted to know why he should be treated differently to the rest of the population.

This really has got to stop. Italy desperately needs a new revolution - it had thought Berlusconi was one - and corruption, underperformance and overly generous remuneration amongst deputies needs to be ended. Berlusconi has made a serious mistake here: if the people have no confidence in their rulers they will get rid of them.