Post by kevinfelixlee on Mar 30, 2011 3:14:33 GMT -5
A television channel owned by Silvio Berlusconi buy runescape gold has been accused of paying a woman to falsely claim that she was a victim of the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake and to sing the praises of the government's much-maligned reconstruction efforts.
The woman, Marina Villa, 50, allegedly received 300 euros (260) to give a glowing endorsement buy runescape money of the way in which Mr Berlusconi had steered reconstruction efforts since the earthquake struck two years ago.
The city was "under full reconstruction", the government had built brand-new houses with beautiful gardens and "all commercial activities" had resumed, she told the Forum programme, which is broadcast on Canale 5, the flagship channel in Mr Berlusconi's Mediaset empire.
"Only 300 to 400 people remain homeless. They are in hotels because they find them comfortable. They eat and drink at the government's expense buy runescape accounts. I wouldn't mind going there myself. Everything is returning to as it was before," she said.
"For all this I'd like to thank ... the prime minister."
But since the programme was broadcast last Friday, it has been alleged that she is not from L'Aquila, and nor is she a divorcee who runs a wedding boutique, as she claimed.
The apparent rs power leveling set-up has sparked fury among the inhabitants of L'Aquila, who have complained of the slow pace of rebuilding and lack of government support since the 6.3 quake killed more than 300 people and left more than 60,000 homeless.
They say that after an initial flurry of building, when new houses were unveiled by the prime minister himself, they have been forgotten by Rome.
The row, which has sparked angry comments on social network websites and in the local press, comes just days before the second anniversary of the earthquake is to be commemorated, on April 6.
Stefania Pezzopane, a city councillor, accused the programme of staging a "shocking" misrepresentation of the situation and giving a "distorted picture" of the state of reconstruction in the city, the capital of Abruzzo province.
Dario Franceschini, a senior member of the opposition Democratic Party, said the alleged fabrication runescape power leveling had made him "shudder with horror and shame".
Antonio di Pietro, the head of Italy of Values, another opposition party, said the alleged stunt had been engineered by Mr Berlusconi's "lackeys".
The television channel defended the programme and denied Mrs Villa's testimony was part of a set-up.
"To suggest that her spontaneous remarks were the product of some sort of pre-prepared plan is an allegation that Mediaset rejects," the company said.
Mr Berlusconi's twin roles as prime minister and the owner of Italy's three most popular private television channels have prompted conflict of interest accusations ever since he entered politics in the early 1990s.
He also exerts control over the public broadcaster, Rai, because the corporation's board is controlled by his supporters.