

Currently released so far... 6230 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
ASEC
AF
AE
AR
AORC
AJ
AU
AM
ABLD
AL
AMGT
ASUP
AFIN
APER
ABUD
AVERY
APCS
AEMR
ADCO
APECO
ASIG
AG
AA
AS
AFFAIRS
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AMED
AO
ACOA
AX
AROC
ATFN
ASEAN
AFGHANISTAN
AFU
AER
ALOW
AODE
ATRN
AID
AC
AGMT
CH
CO
CS
CE
CU
CLINTON
CG
CVIS
CMGT
CI
CJAN
CF
COM
CASC
CA
CBW
CM
CDG
CR
COUNTER
CD
CWC
CKGR
CN
CPAS
CJUS
CV
CONS
CT
CY
COUNTERTERRORISM
CIA
CACM
CDB
CAN
COE
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CONDOLEEZZA
CARSON
CL
CIS
CODEL
CTM
CB
ECON
EFIN
EAIR
EUN
EINV
ENRG
EG
ETRD
EPET
ETTC
ELAB
EU
ER
ET
EAGR
ECPS
ECIN
ELTN
EAID
EMIN
EWWT
EFIS
EIND
EC
ES
EN
EI
ENVR
ENGR
ENIV
EUNCH
ENVI
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ELN
EZ
EXTERNAL
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EINT
EUR
ECINECONCS
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EK
ELECTIONS
ECUN
EINVEFIN
ECIP
EINDETRD
EUC
EREL
ECA
ENERG
ENGY
ETRO
EFTA
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
ECONEFIN
EINVETC
EINN
ESA
ETC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ESENV
ETRDECONWTOCS
IN
IC
IR
IZ
IS
IAEA
IT
ICTY
IO
IA
IWC
ID
ICRC
ILC
INTELSAT
IMO
ISRAELI
IACI
ILO
ITRA
IBRD
IMF
ICJ
ICAO
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
INTERPOL
IV
IQ
IPR
INRB
ITPHUM
IIP
IL
INR
ITPGOV
IZPREL
IRC
INRA
INRO
IRAJ
IEFIN
IF
KDEM
KCRM
KJUS
KTIA
KWBG
KPAL
KIPR
KTIP
KE
KNNP
KGHG
KICC
KV
KTFN
KU
KCFE
KDRG
KWMN
KSCA
KGIC
KCOR
KFRD
KPKO
KSUM
KPRP
KPAO
KBCT
KIRF
KCFC
KISL
KREC
KSPR
KHIV
KBIO
KMCA
KMPI
KFLU
KSTH
KBTR
KS
KOMC
KOMS
KSEP
KPRV
KFLO
KHLS
KN
KWWMN
KUNR
KLIG
KSTC
KZ
KG
KRAD
KOLY
KTBT
KTDB
KOCI
KAWK
KCIP
KNPP
KWAC
KMDR
KAWC
KIDE
KSAF
KX
KWMNCS
KNEI
KCRS
KVPR
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KACT
KO
KFSC
KR
KPWR
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KFIN
KGCC
KPIN
KPLS
KIRC
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KGIT
KBTS
KERG
KWMM
KRVC
KNSD
KVIR
KNUP
KTER
KDDG
KHSA
KMRS
KHDP
KTLA
KPAK
KNAR
KREL
KPAI
KTEX
KCOM
KNNPMNUC
KPOA
KRFD
KHUM
KDEV
KNUC
MOPS
MARR
MASS
MNUC
MO
MX
MCAP
ML
MTCRE
MR
MP
MY
MU
MIL
MAR
MC
MRCRE
MTRE
MA
MEPI
MV
MPOS
MD
MZ
MEPP
MOPPS
MAPP
MASC
MT
MERCOSUR
MK
MDC
MI
MAPS
MCC
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
MUCN
MTCR
MG
OREP
OVIP
OFDP
ODIP
OPDC
OAS
OTRA
OSCE
OECD
OIIP
OEXC
OPCW
OPIC
OPRC
OVP
OSCI
OTR
OSAC
OIC
OFFICIALS
OIE
PHUM
PREL
PGOV
PREF
PTER
PARM
PBTS
PINR
PINS
PHSA
PK
POL
PM
PINT
PE
PINF
PEL
PA
PARMS
PO
PLN
PROP
PALESTINIAN
PAO
PL
POV
PG
POLITICS
PEPR
PSI
PSOE
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PBIO
PECON
PAK
POGOV
PINL
PKFK
PMIL
PY
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PRAM
PMAR
PGOVLO
PUNE
PORG
PHUMPREL
PF
POLINT
PHUS
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PNAT
PGOVE
PRGOV
PRL
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
SENV
SY
SZ
SOCI
SO
SR
SNAR
SA
SP
SW
SMIG
SU
SCUL
SC
SAN
SN
SL
SG
SYR
SEVN
SF
SI
STEINBERG
SIPRS
SH
SNARCS
SOFA
SANC
SHUM
SK
ST
TRGY
TU
TBIO
TH
TS
TSPL
TT
TPHY
TSPA
TI
TK
TIP
TERRORISM
TZ
TX
TW
TD
TP
TC
TO
TNGD
TINT
TRSY
TR
TFIN
TURKEY
UK
UNGA
UN
UNHRC
UNMIK
UNO
UZ
UNSC
UP
UG
UNHCR
UNDC
US
UNAUS
USTR
UV
UNEP
UY
UNESCO
USUN
UAE
USEU
UNDP
UNCHS
UNVIE
UNCHC
UE
UNDESCO
USAID
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 08ROME681, ITALY: BERLUSCONI'S IMPRESSIVE START: DELIVERING
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08ROME681.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
08ROME681 | 2008-05-30 11:11 | 2011-02-19 11:11 | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | Embassy Rome |
VZCZCXRO6822
RR RUEHBW RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHRO #0681/01 1511124
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 301124Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0387
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHFL/AMCONSUL FLORENCE 3064
RUEHMIL/AMCONSUL MILAN 9404
RUEHNP/AMCONSUL NAPLES 3213
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ROME 000681
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2018
TAGS: PGOV ECON IT
SUBJECT: ITALY: BERLUSCONI'S IMPRESSIVE START: DELIVERING
ON CAMPAIGN PROMISES, HIGH APPROVAL RATINGS
REF: A. ROME 0472...
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald P. Spogli for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
SUMMARY
-------
¶1. (C/NF) Capitalizing on his strong electoral victory and a
weak opposition, PM Berlusconi is enjoying high approval
ratings for his quick delivery on campaign promises to reduce
taxes and increase security. Since April, Berlusconi has
dominated the Italian political stage. By reaching out to
the opposition and keeping his allies placated, Berlusconi is
also cutting a more statesman-like figure than in previous
terms. END SUMMARY.
BERLUSCONI SETS UP GOVERNMENT WITH RECORD SPEED
--------------------------------------------- --
¶2. (C/NF) Berlusconi's overwhelming victory in Italy's April
13-14 parliamentary elections earned his center-right
coalition a comfortable majority in both houses of parliament
(REF A). Despite early predictions that the success of the
Northern League (LN), Berlusconi's populist and sometimes
anti-immigrant coalition partner, would complicate the
government formation process, Berlusconi was the first
PM-designate in the history of the Italian Republic to
present the President his list of cabinet ministers the
moment he was asked to form a government. Senate President
Renato Schifani told the Ambassador May 14 that Berlusconi
had neutralized the LN, with its heavy focus on security
issues, by giving them the Ministry of Interior.
BERLUSCONI TACKLES SECURITY, TAXES, TRASH, CRIME
--------------------------------------------- ---
¶3. (SBU) In his first address to Parliament on May 13,
Berlusconi outlined his government's priorities and called
for cooperation with the opposition, saying his government
would move quickly to resolve the Naples garbage crisis,
abolish property tax on a family's first home (and lower
taxes in general), improve public safety, increase regional
control over locally-sourced tax revenues, and stimulate
economic growth in the South. For the first time, Berlusconi
noted the need to combat organized crime as a government
priority (REF B).
¶4. (C/NF) Highlighting the importance of resolving the Naples
garbage issue, which has evolved into a crisis of public
order, Berlusconi held his first Council of Ministers (CoM)
meeting in Naples on May 21, at which he created an
Undersecretary position for working on the trash crisis and
threatened to jail anyone blocking the movement of garbage
trucks. The CoM also decided on promised tax cuts and new
security measures, including specific measures against
illegal immigrants (REF C). Finance Minister Giulio Tremonti
claims that lost revenue will be made up for by spending cuts
and a crack down on tax evasion, but many -- including EU
officials -- are skeptical. Previous Berlusconi governments
ran deficits that violated EU limits.
NEARLY UNPRECEDENTED PUBLIC APPROVAL
------------------------------------
¶5. (SBU) Polls published the last week of May indicate that
between 50% and 60% of Italians approve of Berlusconi's
performance to date, versus only 20% who do not. 25% of
people who voted against Berlusconi give him positive marks,
a remarkable statistic in Italy. The same polls indicate
that an even higher percentage of Italians support the
content of the decrees/draft laws approved May 21 by the CoM.
89% favor harsher penalties for drunk drivers; 87% support
the elimination of property taxes on a family's first home;
and 74% approve of quicker measures to expel foreigners
convicted of crimes, while 58% support making illegal
immigration a crime. Though opposition-leaning newspapers
highlight that only 9% believe Berlusconi will solve Naples'
long-running trash crisis within one month, 48% believe he
will solve the crisis in under one year.
BERLUSCONI IV, REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE
----------------------------------------
¶6. (C/NF) Most analysts expected Berlusconi's victory to be
narrow and cited meetings between Democratic Party (PD)
Secretary Walter Veltroni's confidant Goffredo Bettini and
ROME 00000681 002.2 OF 002
Berlusconi adviser (and Undersecretary) Gianni Letta as
evidence that they were planning some kind of post-election
grand coalition. The scale of Berlusconi's victory made
bipartisanship numerically unnecessary for all but
constitutional reforms. Nevertheless, Berlusconi reached out
specifically to Veltroni in his May 13 address and has made
several other overtures across the aisle. For the most part,
Veltroni has responded positively.
A DISORGANIZED OPPOSITION
-------------------------
¶7. (C/NF) Veltroni was weakened politically by the magnitude
of his loss in the April 13-14 elections, as well as by the
PD's loss in the key Rome mayoral race two weeks later.
Veltroni has formed a British-style shadow government in
opposition to Berlusconi, but former FM and PD heavyweight
Massimo D'Alema refused to participate in it and has begun to
challenge Veltroni on several fronts. Chamber President
Gianfranco Fini told the Ambassador that D'Alema has put
Veltroni ""in the freezer"" and will try to engineer a way to
dump him next year from the PD leadership.
¶8. (C/NF) No communist or far-left parties are represented in
the Italian parliament. One time Berlusconi ally
Pierferdindando Casini leads a small centrist caucus, but
Casini is in a difficult position politically given that most
of his views are ideologically similar to Berlusconi's.
Antonio DiPietro's small Italians of Value (IdV) party offers
the most vigorous opposition to Berlusconi, but its size
makes it of only minor significance.
COMMENT
-------
¶9. (C/NF) Berlusconi's strong, popular start contrasts
starkly with the Prodi government's two years of internal
squabbling. With support even from many Italians who voted
for the opposition, Berlusconi dominates the political
landscape while outmaneuvering his domestic opponents at
every turn. To be sure, prospects of weak economic growth, a
large fiscal deficit and the reality that the Naples trash
crisis could take a long time to resolve all present
significant challenges. Moreover, the opposition, both in
and out of parliament, will not remain disorganized and quiet
indefinitely. But for the moment, Berlusconi has started his
fourth governing mandate like a statesman with potential to
address many of Italy's most serious problems. END COMMENT.
SPOGLI
"