Berlusconi warns rally of communist threat

Premier Silvio Berlusconi told supporters that Italian communists posed a lingering threat to democracy, returning to one of his favourite themes as he campaigned ahead of next year’s general election.

Berlusconi told a rally of his Forza Italia party late yesterday that it was necessary to explain to citizens, “that in Italy democracy is still not guaranteed and that liberty is not so certain”.

At national elections expected next April the centre-right will be facing “parties that still have on their symbols and their flags the symbols of the terrorism of communist domination and tyranny, the hammer and sickle,” the premier said to loud cheers.

Berlusconi mentioned two small left-wing parties by name, the Communist Refoundation and the Italian Communist Party.

Berlusconi’s main rival in the national vote, former premier and European Commission president Romano Prodi, is allied with the two communist parties.

Berlusconi said the Italian left disguised itself as social democratic, socialist or liberal while continuing to fight for communist goals, and for a system “that uses the judiciary for the elimination – not physical but moral - of political opponents.”

The premier has been plagued by legal woes since he entered politics more than a decade ago.

Opposition deputy Renzo Lusetti said Berlusconi’s comments were unclear. “What does it mean when Berlusconi asserts that in Italy democracy is not guaranteed? What threatening signal is he pointing to?” Lusetti said.