"Don't wipe us out, Italy still needs us"An interview with Emma Bonino (1), secretary of the radical party, who will be in Naples tomorrow with Pannella (2)
Gianni Ambrosini
ABSTRACT: Two days before the deadline for the 30,000 memberships decided by the radical congress (4/8 February 1993), the secretary Emma Bonino is giving interviews on the possible outcome of this last challenge that will decide on the future of the radical party. Today the life of the radical party - a party which has honoured the nobleness and the possible honesty of politics - is the hands of the citizens. They will decide whether or not politics can do without the pests thanks to which Italy has achieved the only civil reforms in thirty years. Those who suggest "miracle" cures that will supposedly guarantee jobs and wealth for all is lying once again.
(IL MATTINO, February 26th 1993)
The meeting point is at the Maschio Angioino tomorrow at 17:30, with Emma Bonino and Marco Pannella who will address their last request to the Neapolitans: join the Radical Party, contribute to our survival. On the eve of this meeting, we interviewed the newly-elected national secretary of the radical party, Mrs Emma Bonino.
Q: Mrs Bonino, time is running out. Will you win this battle?
A: In all radical battles it is the citizens who win. When they realized, for instance, that they could be more than just numbers, more than just electors with a vote to cast in exchange for something, and that they could become the protagonists of politics, that their decisions could have the effect of passing good laws, guaranteeing the dignity of an individual, of a family, and even the lives of millions of human beings. This has been true for abortion, for the campaign against starvation, for the referendums, for the battle against the slaughterers of justice who invented the Tortora (3) case just to cover their constant connivance with the mafia, sham tenders and other frauds. These 'lay miracles' occurred when thousands of citizens, who had never before dealt with politics, discovered the pleasure of fighting and being in the forefront for civil achievements, for democracy and solidarity.
Even now the life of the radical party--a party that has honoured the nobleness and possible honesty of politics--is in their hands. Only a miracle can allow us to reach the target of 30,000 memberships that we need to ensure the survival of the radical party. The figures say that we risk failing by a handful of memberships. But if that drive of courage, gratefulness and pride which has allowed us to overcome insurmountable obstacles takes place again, then we can make it.
Q: How did Naples react to yesterday's appeal launched by Pannella, yourself and all the radicals?
A: The 500 memberships or so of Naples and province are really few, considering all the campaigns we have carried out in this city, in this town council. In crucial moments, Neapolitans seem to give in to a sense of renunciation; they seem to renounce affirming their rights and their dignity. It is an unsettling submissiveness, that brings them to endure that parody of politics which the Neapolitan parties have been playing out for centuries and which we have always refused. Thus, at the elections they have always voted those very parties that humiliated this city, ignoring our lists. Tomorrow's demonstration at the Maschio Angioino, where so many of our friends have promised to come, including Pasquale Squitieri, Aldo Masullo, Eugenio Bennato, Mimmo Pinto and many others, will be the last opportunity to make up for a "neglect" towards the radicals which the Neapolitans have paid dearly. We hope generosity will prevail this time.
Q: It is a difficult circumstance for our city, which is plagued by countless problems. What will you propose to the Neapolitans?
A: Those who suggest "miracle cures" that will guarantee jobs and wealth for all are lying once again. The situation in Naples is difficult, as in the rest of Italy or in Germany or Great Britain. The difference with these countries is that we have a nomenclature that does not want to--and is largely incapable of--taking measures allowing to overcome the international economic crisis at the lowest possible cost. There is only one solution: punishing these parties that have the terrible responsibility of having corrupted everything. It is not just a question of kickbacks; the most serious responsibility is that of having robbed us of the legality, of the certainty of the laws, of the very possibility of ensuring the functioning of the state administration. For forty years Naples has been without a State, without laws that are respected, and this is why the mafia had found it so easy to fill this vacuum. There are nine referendums that could allow for a mobilization and non-violent insurrection against the par
ty regime, and once again they want to rob us. Defending these referendums is the most urgent thing at this time.
Q: As far as the Radical Party is concerned, what will its future be?
A: Its future depends largely on whether or not one Neapolitan out of one thousands lifts the phone receiver, dials number 06-689791 or 5514317 in Naples and joins the radical party, paying (also with credit card) the equivalent of one coffee a day; or if he makes the "sacrifice" of going to the post office and sending a postal money order of 270,000 lire to the only party that has made poverty into its banner. Now it is perhaps clear why no radical is implicated in the kickbacks scandal. By the way, our address is Partito radicale, via Torre Argentina 76, 00186 ROMA.
Q: What if you fail to reach the established number of members? What then?
A: Politics for us is not a profession or a reason for personal survival. If Neapolitans decide we are to disappear, that they don't need us, that politics can do without the trouble-makers that have given the only civil reforms this country has ever experienced, then we shall acknowledge this decision and go home. There are no other scenarios except the one that can be achieved by those who will decide to rebel against the widespread cynicism, indifference and demagogy.
Translator's notes
(1) BONINO EMMA. (Bra 1948). President of the Radical Party, former member of the European Parliament, as of 1976 member of the Italian Parliament. Among the promoters of the CISA (Information Centre on Sterilization and Abortion) and active militant in the campaign against clandestine abortion. She was tried and acquitted in Florence. Participated in the conduction, on a national and international scale, of the campaign on World Hunger. Among the founding members of "Food and Disarmament International", promoted the circulation of the Manifesto of Nobel Laureates.
(2) PANNELLA MARCO. Pannella Giacinto, known as Marco. (Teramo 1930). Currently President of the Radical Party's Federal Council, which he is one of the founders of. At twenty national university representative of the Liberal Party, at twenty-two President of the UGI, the union of lay university students, at twenty-three President of the UNURI, national union of Italian university students. At twenty-four he advocates, in the context of the students' movement and of the Liberal party, the foundation of the new radical party, which arises in 1954 following the confluence of prestigious intellectuals and minor democratic political groups. He is active in the party, except for a period (1960-1963) in which he is correspondent for "Il Giorno" in Paris, where he established contacts with the Algerian resistance. Back in Italy, he commits himself to the reconstruction of the radical Party, dissolved by its leadership following the advent of the centre-left. Under his indisputable leadership, the party succeeds in
promoting (and winning) relevant civil rights battles, working for the introduction of divorce, conscientious objection, important reforms of family law, etc, in Italy. He struggles for the abrogation of the Concordat between Church and State. Arrested in Sofia in 1968 as he is demonstrating in defence of Czechoslovakia, which has been invaded by Stalin. He opens the party to the newly-born homosexual organizations (FUORI), promotes the formation of the first environmentalist groups. The new radical party organizes difficult campaigns, proposing several referendums (about twenty throughout the years) for the moralization of the country and of politics, against public funds to the parties, against nuclear plants, etc., but in particular for a deep renewal of the administration of justice. Because of these battles, all carried out with strictly nonviolent methods according to the Gandhian model - but Pannella's Gandhi is neither a mystic nor an ideologue; rather, an intransigent and yet flexible politician - h
e has been through trials which he has for the most part won. As of 1976, year in which he first runs for Parliament, he is always elected at the Chamber of Deputies, twice at the Senate, twice at the European Parliament. Several times candidates and local councillor in Rome, Naples, Trieste, Catania, where he carried out exemplary and demonstrative campaigns and initiatives. Whenever necessary, he has resorted to the weapon of the hunger strike, not only in Italy but also in Europe, in particular during the major campaign against world hunger, for which he mobilized one hundred Nobel laureates and preeminent personalities in the fields of science and culture in order to obtain a radical change in the management of the funds allotted to developing countries. On 30 September 1981 he obtains at the European parliament the passage of a resolution in this sense, and after it several other similar laws in the Italian and Belgian Parliament. In January 1987 he runs for President of the European Parliament, obtaini
ng 61 votes. Currently, as the radical party has pledged to no longer compete with its own lists in national elections, he is striving for the creation of a "transnational" cross-party, in view of a federal development of the United States of Europe and with the objective of promoting civil rights throughout the world.
Translator's notes
(1) BONINO EMMA. (Bra 1948). President of the Radical Party, former member of the European Parliament, as of 1976 member of the Italian Parliament. Among the promoters of the CISA (Information Centre on Sterilization and Abortion) and active militant in the campaign against clandestine abortion. She was tried and acquitted in Florence. Participated in the conduction, on a national and international scale, of the campaign on World Hunger. Among the founding members of "Food and Disarmament International", promoted the circulation of the Manifesto of Nobel Laureates.
(2) PANNELLA MARCO. Pannella Giacinto, known as Marco. (Teramo 1930). Currently President of the Radical Party's Federal Council, which he is one of the founders of. At twenty national university representative of the Liberal Party, at twenty-two President of the UGI, the union of lay university students, at twenty-three President of the UNURI, national union of Italian university students. At twenty-four he advocates, in the context of the students' movement and of the Liberal party, the foundation of the new radical party, which arises in 1954 following the confluence of prestigious intellectuals and minor democratic political groups. He is active in the party, except for a period (1960-1963) in which he is correspondent for "Il Giorno" in Paris, where he established contacts with the Algerian resistance. Back in Italy, he commits himself to the reconstruction of the radical Party, dissolved by its leadership following the advent of the centre-left. Under his indisputable leadership, the party succeeds in
promoting (and winning) relevant civil rights battles, working for the introduction of divorce, conscientious objection, important reforms of family law, etc, in Italy. He struggles for the abrogation of the Concordat between Church and State. Arrested in Sofia in 1968 as he is demonstrating in defence of Czechoslovakia, which has been invaded by Stalin. He opens the party to the newly-born homosexual organizations (FUORI), promotes the formation of the first environmentalist groups. The new radical party organizes difficult campaigns, proposing several referendums (about twenty throughout the years) for the moralization of the country and of politics, against public funds to the parties, against nuclear plants, etc., but in particular for a deep renewal of the administration of justice. Because of these battles, all carried out with strictly nonviolent methods according to the Gandhian model - but Pannella's Gandhi is neither a mystic nor an ideologue; rather, an intransigent and yet flexible politician - h
e has been through trials which he has for the most part won. As of 1976, year in which he first runs for Parliament, he is always elected at the Chamber of Deputies, twice at the Senate, twice at the European Parliament. Several times candidates and local councillor in Rome, Naples, Trieste, Catania, where he carried out exemplary and demonstrative campaigns and initiatives. Whenever necessary, he has resorted to the weapon of the hunger strike, not only in Italy but also in Europe, in particular during the major campaign against world hunger, for which he mobilized one hundred Nobel laureates and preeminent personalities in the fields of science and culture in order to obtain a radical change in the management of the funds allotted to developing countries. On 30 September 1981 he obtains at the European parliament the passage of a resolution in this sense, and after it several other similar laws in the Italian and Belgian Parliament. In January 1987 he runs for President of the European Parliament, obtaini
ng 61 votes. Currently, as the radical party has pledged to no longer compete with its own lists in national elections, he is striving for the creation of a "transnational" cross-party, in view of a federal development of the United States of Europe and with the objective of promoting civil rights throughout the world.
(3) TORTORA ENZO. (Genua 1928 - Milan 1988). Journalist and popular TV man, who was arrested for alleged drug dealing. Elected to the European Parliament (1984) on the Radical Party ticket, he underwent a trial during which he was convicted and later acquitted at the appeal. The occasion and the symbol of the most important radical campaign for the reform of the justice system.
