“In the past 50 years Rome has seen 19 Prime Ministers, while in Bolzano there were only Silvius Magnago and Luis Durnwalder. The German magazine Der Spiegel draws a picture of the excellent economy of Trentino Alto Adige, whose GDP is double compared to Sicily and with Durnwalder who earns more than Obama. According to Durnwalder, Trentino Alto Adige is no longer willing to finance Sicily’s Dolce Vita, since the island has potential job opportunities”. The magazine also published the opinions of Durnwalder’s opponent, the Pdl MP Michaela Biancofiore, who is very close to Silvio Berlusconi.

According to Biancofiore, “without Alto Adige, Italy would have fewer problems”. And Durnwalder immediately answered: “We’ll solve the problem with Berlusconi, but Biancofiore must stop wandering around in Rome saying that Trentino Alto Adige is being mistreated by barbarians.

“I would like to invite mister Luis Durnwalder to come out from the small space he governs, alternatively with Silvius Magnano, to face more serious problems that go beyond the province of Bolzano. I wonder if he would be able to maintain the same idyllic situation with a GDP double compared to the Sicilian one”. This is what vice-president of the Sicilian Region, Michele Cimino, said. “We are not expecting money from Trentino Alto Adige – continued Cimino – since in southern Italy life isn’t as beautiful as Durnwalder depicts it. We face every day very serious problems such as unemployment, an issue that the central government still hasn’t been able to solve. I’m glad that “Durnì” earns more that the American President – ended Cimino – and I am convinced that with his Teutonic efficiency he will pay taxes to the Italian State up to the last cent”.

Translated by Chiara Nunnari from John Milton Institute