Fears of anti-immigration alliance as Berlusconi lauds France's expulsion policy

[pampango]

Source: The Independent

Italy's conservative premier Silvio Berlusconi has given his full support to France's controversial decision to forcibly repatriate thousands of Roma people to Eastern Europe. And in an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro, he appeared keen to exploit the row by calling for tougher EU-wide limits on immigration.

"On the question of the repatriation of the Roma, I support Nicolas Sarkozy," he said. He rebuked EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding, saying she should have "confronted the French government privately" instead of making public comments comparing France's expulsion of Roma with the Nazis' deportation of Jews.

Mr Berlusconi's decision to follow his conservative instincts on immigration issues and strengthen Italo-French relations by backing President Sarkozy will also go do down well at home, particularly with the powerful anti-immigration Northern League partner in his coalition government.

Rome has also has clashed with Brussels over a crack down on illegal immigration, notably over its controversial policy of sending boat loads of destitute immigrants back to North Africa.

In May, Mr Berlusconi was criticised by the Catholic Church and the opposition for saying Italy should not be a multi-ethnic society. He said: "The Left's idea is of a multi-ethnic Italy. That is not our idea, ours is to welcome only those who meet the conditions for political asylum."

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/fears-of-antiimmigration-alliance-as-berlusconi-lauds-frances-expulsion-policy-2081639.html

[virgogal]

1. Things are getting nasty over there.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[harmonicon]

3. wow... amazing

I was going to make a joke, but I'm really just at a loss here. Rarely have I been so stunned, and I read a lot of stunning crap on this board.

[pampango]

4. I didn't see it, but it must have been good.

Sometimes the "stunning crap" one comes across, makes me check the URL to ensure that a freeper virus hasn't hijacked my browser and taken me to that site that shall not be named.