Italian 'Robin Hood' Strikes Again

Friday, August 15, 1997; 8:35 p.m. EDT

ROME (AP) -- A month after his first giveaway, maverick Italian politician Marco Pannella was back handing out money, this time to anyone willing to line up under the hot sun for a holiday handout.

Pannella, founder of the Radical Party and now leader of the Pannella List party, gave away what his aides estimated was $85,000 on Friday as most of the city was deserted for a national holiday.

Thousands lined up in the square outside Rome's city hall atop the Capitoline Hill to receive a 50,000-lire ($28) note.

Last month, Pannella, who's been nicknamed Robin Hood, gave away $110,000 in northern Italy.

The giveaways -- with three more planned for northern Italy in coming weeks -- are part of his campaign to reform the financing of political parties.

Pannella has used stunts before to make his point. Several years ago, he distributed free marijuana at a Roman flea market to get publicity for his campaign to legalize the drug.

(c) Copyright 1997 The Associated Press