Berlusconi accuses newspapers of misinforming readers

Posted by Clara Martínez Turco on June 29, 2010 at 4:48 PM

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is angry with the Italian press for their news coverage during the G8 and G20 summits in Canada.

"Newspapers misinform. Readers should do a strike to teach those who write not to mock them," Berlusconi said yesterday at his arrival to Sao Paolo, where he is scheduled to meet with Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, La Reppublica reported.

The Prime Minister said the accounts of the meetings published by the newspapers where "the exact opposite of the reality." "They are a mockery of the readers with a misinformation that has been going on for several days, from several months to date and it is inconceivable," quoted Il Sole 24 Ore.

Berlusconi's accusations coincided with press protests against his intention to approve a controversial law that would curb the use of wiretaps by the police. If passed, newspapers that publish transcripts of wiretapped conversations would face heavy fines.

According to the Global Post, Italian journalists and newspaper editors have called a strike for July 9, "while the CEO of the Rupert Murdoch-owned Sky Italy said he is 'ready to go to jail' if the new rules are approved."

Reactions to Berlusconi's latest statement appeared as soon as his words hit the Internet. Roberto Natale, president of the National Federation of Italian Press, accused the Prime Minister of boycotting the newspapers from which his media empire takes information. "It is a conflict of interests," assured Natale to L'Arena.