The Economist publishes an Open Letter to the Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and asks some inconvenient questions. Slowly, but surely, things are getting uncomfortable for this gentleman.
To:
Silvio Berlusconi
Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri
Palazzo Chigi
370 Piazza Colonna
Rome 00187
July 30th 2003
Dear Mr Berlusconi,
I am writing to you to pose questions that I believe the public has a right to hear the answers to. As this can no longer occur through the Italian courts, such questions should be posed and answered in public. [...]
On April 28th 2001, we published a cover story entitled Why Silvio Berlusconi is unfit to lead Italy and a four-page investigation An Italian story. We sent you a letter on April 11th 2001, containing 51 questions, that stated: "The Economist intends to publish shortly a feature on your business career and on the various investigations into you and your companies that have been carried out by the Italian magistracy during the last seven years". You did not reply.
On May 2nd 2001, you filed a writ for defamation against The Economist in the Rome court. As you will know, this court has not yet ruled on your suit. In light of the above, we are writing to you by way of open letter and challenge you to answer our further set of questions in a similar open, public fashion. Our letter comprises six sections as follows:
We look forward to your reply
Yours sincerely
Bill Emmott
Editor
The Economist
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