REFERENDUM IN VENETO AND LOMBARDIA COULD SPELL DISASTER FOR ITALY…..
The Veneto and Lombardia regions in northern Italy are both preparing for a referendum vote on the 22nd of October which will decide if the Central Government can then be consulted over eventual greater autonomy for which both Lega Nord controlled regions are pushing. Following the Catalans in Spain, it is now the people of Veneto and Lombardy who will express their will. The referendum is at this stage only a consultation of the People, but should the votes for the Yes campaign be high enough it will cause serious problems for Central government, the increased autonomy could, amongst other consequences, in theory mean that both regions will retain a much larger percentage of the taxes collected, coming from the two richest and most productive regions in Italy, this would cause great problems for a central government already struggling with its finances, the knock on effect could be disastrous, so although the referendum on the 22nd is only a consultation, it should not be underestimated. The regions Lega Nord leaders, Luca Zaia and Roberto Maroni of Veneto and Lombardia respectively, are hopeful of a good turnout, and are citing the massive corruption and waste that is a permanent feature of Central Italian government, not to mention the failure to get to grips with an economic crisis that has been going on for nearly a decade, and despite official growth figures being cited daily on the State controlled RAI, the general population continue to find great difficulty in both finding work and making ends meet. According the Governatori Zaia and Maroni increased autonomy would mean greater investment in the local people and their immediate Regions, using their hard earned taxes, and avoiding so much being filtered off by Rome.
The referendum has been recognised and authorised by the State, with special decrees passed in order to allow it, so the debacle of the Spanish police violence as seen in the past days in Catalonia should not be repeated in Italy.
COURT ORDERS PENSIONERS TO REPAY DAMAGES AWARDED 20 YEARS AGO….
The latest scandal regarding pensioners came to light this week as around 80 pensioners were ordered and sent bills for damages awarded in the form of disability pensions 20 years ago, the payments which range from €6000 to €97000, are also being demanded from relatives of people who died from cancer after years of exposure to asbestos in the glass factory near Empoli in Tuscany. In another bureaucratic idiocy, INPS, which is struggling to pay the nations pensions , has won an injunction over some of the awarded pensions on a legal technicality, leaving many who are still mourning their dead, or still suffering themselves from the effects of prolonged exposure to asbestos wondering how they will be able to pay the debt on the small pension they are left with. In the meantime there are still the so called Golden pensions of ex company directors involved in businesses with the State and ex government managers and directors, who are receiving STATE pensions of between €5,000 and €90,000 A MONTH, a scandal that is continuously swept under the hand woven antique Persian rugs used for wiping the ministers and directors feet as they enter their favourite expenses paid restaurant in Rome.
CLIMATE GONE MAD….BEWARE THE “COLPO D’ARIA”!
As Southern Italy and Sicily struggle with torrential downpours and tornadoes, in Milan with Autumn well under way, Pear trees have blossomed . According to experts, after a cold snap, the weather in the North has warmed causing the plants to believe that spring has sprung, these same experts however warn of dire consequences for health, and advise dressing in layers and protecting ones throat with a scarf, to avoid the sometimes potentially fatal “Colpo d’aria”, with temperatures ranging between daytime highs of 22c and night-time lows of 9c in some parts of the country, the risks are obviously high……God knows how Italians have survived in colder foreign climes for centuries….
FURTHER NEWS….some serious and some not!
4 cases of malaria in Taranto, Puglia, the agricultural workers all from Morocco are deemed to have contracted the disease whilst working in Italy, the authorities are investigating, as there has been an increase in cases of malaria recently, with one death reported in Trentino, northern Italy earlier this year.
A train travelling between Venice and Treviso, was taken hostage by a group of protesting illegal immigrants, the commuter train full of passengers was not put in any danger and the Carabinieri eventually intervened after approximately 90 minutes, evacuating the train and arresting the group of immigrants, before the train was allowed to complete its journey. It is not clear what the protest was about.
Mafia – 37 arrests made throughout Italy and Germany on Wednesday 4th October, as the RINZIVILLO clan is virtually closed down by the authorities, the clan who is accused of drugs trafficking and extortion also run legitimate fish exportation businesses, and are believed to have connections throughout Europe and as far afield as the Italo-American mafia in New York.
Mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi is likely to be brought to trial for “Falso”, meaning she will be tried for having supplied or known of false signatures pertaining to the 5stelle’s political campaign when she was elected Mayor Of Rome. The city showing the world why it is known as the Eternal City, things haven’t changed in 2000 years…..
Alert as Tunisia becomes the new point of departure for illegal immigrants, with the Libyan route being all but closed down, many asylum seekers are making their way to Tunisia, Italian authorities are rumoured to be saving up from the pensions requisitioned from defenceless pensioners throughout the peninsula in order to bribe the people smugglers in Tunisia.
Asylum seekers have been protesting throughout Italy in recent weeks, the low standard of accommodation, food, bedding and the speed of internet and Wi-Fi connections coming into question in some of Italy’s receptive structures. It has raised a few eyebrows and more than a few questions, some reminding authorities that the tourist facilities where some asylum seekers have been temporarily housed have had these same problems for the past 2 decades, the question on many peoples lips however is; If they have such good internet speed in Africa, why hasn’t Italy? Of course it’s natural that any genuine economic or political refugee, coming from war torn areas of the world where famine, poverty and violence are part of every day life, should take for granted the €30 per head per day given to them by the EU, and at the very least expect soft pillows, a la carte menu, and a minimum 4G connection, even when the locals don’t have such luxuries. After-all business is business and the customer is always right, right?
THIS WEEKS RECIPE…
PASTA AL SALMONE AFFUMICATA CON GAMBERI E PANNA
Ingredients for 4 people
2 tablespoons E.V.O.O
1 clove of garlic, chopped,
2 tablespoon of fresh parsley, chopped,
20 king prawns, peeled,
A handful of cherry tomatoes, sliced in two,
200 gr of smoked salmon, chopped,
200ml of fresh single cream,
350 gr of pasta, (penne, farfalle or tagliatelle,)
Method
In a large frying pan, gently fry the garlic in the olive oil, as soon as the garlic starts to sizzle add in the prawns, smoked salmon, cherry tomatoes, leave to cook over a moderate heat for 2 minutes, then pour over the cream and heat through for a few minutes, season to taste with black pepper or chilly if desired, remove from heat and season with the parley.
Cook the pasta in abundant boiling salted water until al dente, drain and add to the frying pan containing the sauce, heating quickly over a lively flame. Serve with a crisp white wine, OR for example, a Passerina Brut, vino spumante from Marche. Enjoy!
BESPOKE ITALIAN 