Italy’s rich rage at income revelations

Italy’s rich rage at income revelations

By Guy Dinmore in Rome

Published: May 3 2008 01:27 | Last updated: May 3 2008 01:27

Many Italians on Friday countered the rage of the rich and famous by defending the decision of the outgoing centre-left government to publish all taxpayers’ incomes on the internet.

Before next week’s hand­over of power to Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-right administration, Vincenzo Visco, deputy finance minister in charge of combating tax evasion, authorised the posting of 38m returns from 2005.

Complaints by Italy’s privacy watchdog and some consumer groups led to suspension of the website on Wednesday. But this was too late as newspapers had already feasted on the information. It was still available on Friday on peer-to-peer file-sharing clients.

Supporters of Mr Berlusconi, whose last government passed several tax amnesties, criticised Mr Visco for what they portrayed as the last embittered act of a departing administration. Finance ministry officials shrugged this off, pointing out the data had been available to anyone on request.

“It’s all about transparency and democracy,” said Mr Visco, whose recouping of billions in lost taxes was one of the tangible successes of the short-lived coalition government.

That view appeared to have the backing of many Italians, who pointed out Italy is now more in line with countries such as Norway and Finland. Another example is Ireland, which publishes the names of those who voluntarily settle taxes they should have paid earlier.

An online poll by Corriere della Sera, Italy’s main daily newspaper, showed that by noon on Friday more than 54 per cent of 52,000 respondents supported disclosure.

Readers of the left-leaning La Repubblica came out more strongly in favour, while those of the Berlusconi family’s much smaller Il Giornale were about 60 per cent opposed.

Beppe Grillo, a comic self-styled anti-politician who campaigns against corruption among public figures, criticised the government for breaching privacy. He said the decision invited the Mafia to select targets. Critics in turn lampooned Mr Grillo, noting his declared wealth of €4.3m ($6.7m, £3.4m).