The European Commission will start a legal action against Fazio before Christmas. The news was given by Charlie McCreevy, the Internal Market Commissioner. The accusation is abuse of power for having favoured the Banca Popolare Italiana {Italian Popular Bank} of Fiorani over the ABN Amro for the acquisition of Banca Antoveneta.

Fazio, between a conference, a visit to the Vatican to see the friends of Opus Dei and a chat with the life senator "prescritto" (acquitted on grounds of expiration of statutory terms) Giulio Andreotti, is already being investigated by the Procura di Roma {Rome magistrates} where he has been questioned for 5 hours.

What do we have to do to get liberated from him? He has now become a character in the commedia dell’Arte. One like that, makes us the envy of all the humourists of the world.

For once, I’m asking for help from the Vatican. Who better than Fazio could be a substitute for the great Marcinkus? Give him to the IOR {Vatican Bank}, make him a guest of Vatican City and then, if he commits another tiny wee sin, you could always refuse extradition.