ABSTRACT: These texts reconstruct the story of Pannella's resignation from Parliament; the serious problems that Pannella raised with with it, together with the thick and dirty veil covering Parliament. This is what the former member of Parliament wrote to his colleagues, what he said in Parliament, the replies given to him and to the problems he raised; with the "unexpected" result of the acceptance of his resignation. Also, the comments on the event: in the "Transatlantico" (2), in the press, on state television.

Quoted here below is a comment by Marco Pannella.

(Radical News n.248 of 14 November 1989)

What happened is the patent evidence of the statements with which I motivated my resignation. Those who, in good faith, judged them to be excessive, were wrong: there is an ironclad cover-up, here in Parliament, of the things I denounced. The many people who expressed their bewilderment, their concern and even their grief to me, are aware of it.

With this vote "they" have revealed themselves: more than a P2 (3), this seems to be a P222, for which even the power of the parties and of the official groups is worth nothing. They identified their opponent and struck at him, but in doing so they caused a fact of extraordinary political meaning: in their haste, they unveiled the new P2. Haste makes waste. As yet I can't tell what membership card number Labriola detains in this new P2. It took the magistrates of Castiglion Fibocchi to discover the old P2: this time there is no need for them.

Labriola's literal words were: "We've finally managed to get Pannella out of our balls". The same person, a few minutes before the vote, had spoken before the assembly on behalf of the Socialist Party, announcing that they would have rejected my resignation.

In what way was I nuisance to them? How could I disturb them?

The debate on drugs is expected to take place soon. The members of Parliament know something that common citizens don't know: that a single party has succeeded in obtaining from the government to prevent the approval of the new law on drugs. This law, which provides for the funding and the organization of a stronger repression of the traffic, more prevention, more assistance, the allotment of Lit. 80/100 billion, has a 95% majority in Parliament since January. The Socialist Party prevented Parliament from passing the law, blackmailing the government and all the parties from its ideological-demagogic positions, saying: "If you really want to give this money to the drug-addicts, to the Parliament, to the State, then you have to give us what we're asking for". Almirante was asking for death penalty for a dozen people, they are asking for the criminalization of millions of people. When this bill reaches Parliament, the Socialist Party will not allow it to be voted without claiming the price of this blackmail, wh

ich the drug addicts will have to pay.

There is also a diffused feeling that the Communist Party is about to collapse, and that with anticipated elections it would be possible to gobble up 10/20% of votes. Another dissolution of Parliament is already in the air.

The dissolution of the past legislature proved that our and my presence could have made them pay dearly for the early dissolution, as when I convinced Craxi and the others to vote the Fanfani government. The country understood that the Communist Party had been cheated once again; the post-De Mita era was dawning: the author of that operation disappeared after that event. It is then that they thought it was better to get rid of me. But to do this they have had to pay a price, that is, come out in the light.

I never addressed specific accusations against Mrs. Iotti (4): she genuinely believes that Parliament is simply a 'voting place'. She explicitly said it by speaking before the vote, to influence its result, instead of doing so after. She very often acts regardless of any ritual: however, in her case, there is no complicity, there is only guilt, not fraud.

The fact that they are beginning to realize the things I have long since been convinced of, and which I stated officially in Parliament, surely helped to cement this majority: there is a Catholic Pertini in Italy, called Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, just as there had been a lay Pertini for ten years, before becoming President of the Republic. And he frightens people, just like Pertini did. In their haste to get the Catholic Pertini out of the way, to prove that for the Presidency of the Republic between Giulio (5) and Bettino (6) 'tertium non datur', they made a mistake. The truth is that 'tertium datur', as I repeated for eight years, much to Pertini's annoyance. Fortunately, just as Socialism (neither Mussolini's doctrine nor Craxi's doctrine) provided Pertini for the Presidency of the Republic, the Christian Democrat Party of Don Sturzo (7) and De Gasperi (8) is offering a man for the passage from real democracy to democracy (real democracy is the democracy of partyism, just as Stalinism was real socialism).

Before us, long-lasting and inflexible, we have a Catholic Pertini. A reality that beats all the plans of Giulio, Bettino and their friends, who will try to make him appear worn-out, who will believe they destroyed him...They are trying to prevent people from voting without repugnance (this time, in '92, there is no need to clear the Quirinale quickly), to vote with the sense of participating in a clear, transparent and important moment.

There is a man like this, and we have recognized him.

Translator's notes

(1) Sandro Pertini (1896-1990): Politician. Socialist, was imprisoned and exiled during fascism. In 1943-45 took part in the Resistance. President of the Chamber of Deputies ('68-76), President of the Republic (1978-85).

(2) "Transatlantico": name given to a long corridor facing the Hall of the Chamber of Deputies, where members of parliament meet and discuss informally.

(3) P2: Masonic lodge discovered in 1981, having subversive purposes.

(4) Nilde Iotti: President of the Chamber of Deputies.

(5) Giulio Andreotti: Current Prime Minister.

(6) Bettino Craxi: Secretary of the Socialist Party.

(7) Luigi Sturzo(1871-1959): Priest and politician. Founder of the Popular Party (1919).

(8) Alcide De Gasperi(1881-1954): Politician. Member of the Italian Parliament for the Popular Party (1921), of which he was Secretary from '23 to '25. Antifascist, was arrested in 1927. Organizer of the clandestine Christian Democrat Party and Secretary of it from '44 to '46, Prime Minister as from '45, signed the peace treaty with the allies. Guided the Christian Democrat Party toward the electoral success of 1948, in which it obtained the absolute majority.