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Assassination during Italian Center-Left Primaries

by rom wyo
Sun Oct 16th, 2005 at 05:04:52 PM EST

Francesco Fortugno, vice president of the Regional Council of Calabria was assassinated this evening as he entered the Locri polling station to vote in the center-left primaries. A practicing surgeon and university professor, he was re-elected in the center-left party, la Margherita, this spring.

Preliminary investigation seems to point to organized crime, the Calabria n'drangheta. It is not presently known if Fortugno had received death menaces recently. The center-left president of Calabria, Agazio Loiero, had been menaced recently because of his anti-racket policies. This may point to a transversal vendetta, a purely political crime.

This assassination has a highly symbolic value as it breaks the truce of the "silent mafia." For the past five years the mafia has refrained from murdering elected officials, law officers and exponents of civil society on the understanding that Berlusconi would pass legislation to the mafia's advantage.

The crime has cast a heart of darkness over the center-left primaries as, unexpectedly, over two million citizens turned out to vote. It is the first time in Italian history that primaries are being held.

Assassination during Italian Center-Left Primaries | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Assassination during Italian Center-Left Prima (none / 1)

Thanks for the information & explanation of the significance of this event.

What do you think the effect of the assassination will be on the election outcome - both the primaries, and the subsequent general election? Motivate voters, or frighten reps & their supporters?

"this just can't get more disturbing!" - Willow

by myriad (imogenk at wildmail dot com) on Sun Oct 16th, 2005 at 07:27:16 PM EST

Re: Assassination during Italian Center-Left Prima (none / 1)

Fortugno was assassinated around 6 PM. Most people were not aware of the event, myself included. I went to vote in the evening. For that reason it had little effect on the primaries. Most voter turn-out was in the morning.

The results this morning indicate a staggering four million voter turn-out with Prodi over 73% followed by Bertinotti at a distant 15%. A success beyond all previsions both in participation of the population and the mandate for Prodi.

It is an unequivocal message to Berlusconi that despite his obscene electoral law he and his coalition will lose the next election.

The investigation is oriented towards Fortugno's activism in denouncing corruption in the health care system. The Italian Health Care system with its outsourcing of services to the private sector is a powerful political tool and cause of widespread corruption throughout Italy.

It may be premature but this assassination could spell the end of the Pax Mafia and beginning of a season of violence.

by rom wyo on Mon Oct 17th, 2005 at 01:55:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Assassination during Italian Center-Left Primaries | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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