Photo from repubblica.it

Prodi has gone to China so that he can finally dedicate himself to the topic of Telecom. So as not to risk too much between one motorway viaduct and another. At last, with the protection of Chinese secret services, he can express himself freely. He has not spoken like this for years. And you could even understand what he said.

Another person. He’s reborn. In Italy he mumbled. There he speaks loud and clear. The Chinese weren’t that interested in Telecom and the sale of Tim but they had to take it anyway. It’s like if the Chinese Prime Minister came to Rome for a week and went to the Confindustria to hold a press conference about the Yellow River from morning till night.

Prodi was aided by his trusted adviser, the former basketball player Rovati who after the enthusiasm seen in his home country by his declarations and his “home-made” memories revealed to Tronchetti in great secrecy, had to resign. And this is certainly a great thing for the government who can get by without his advice.
Prodi comes back to Italy triumphant even though no one has understood exactly what he and about a thousand politicians and entrepreneurs have done in China. And who has paid for their ticket and their food and lodging. Prodi should now come to Parliament and give news not about China but about Tronchetti. He’ll deliver his usual speech that will be incomprehensible to the public but very reassuring.

Guido Rossi, nearly 80 years old is now President of Telecom. Blessed are the countries that don’t need pensioners. Carlo Buora, the middle finger of Tronchetti’s left hand is the operating deputy president. Basically, everything’s OK. Nothing has changed.

The opposition is asking for Prodi’s resignation without blushing for having allowed Tronchetti to do everything for five years. But perhaps these are just Berlusconi’s manoeuvres to buy the fixed line in the name of Italian-ness. The reversal of parts seen by the newspapers in all this is sensational. Tronchetti is the victim and Prodi is the butcher. The truth is more down to earth: the victims, as always, are the Italians.