Italian political leader threatens forcible rebellion against government
{{date|August 27, 2007}}

Italian politics were flamed on Sunday, August 26th, by a statement from [[w:Umberto Bossi|Umberto Bossi]], the leader of far-right party [[w:Lega Nord|Northern League]], who said during a rally in [[w:Mezzoldo|Ca' San Marco di Mezzoldo]], north of [[w:Milan|Milan]], “People of this region have never drawn out the rifles, but there's always a first time”. [[w:Umberto Bossi|Bossi]], who had been [[w:Minister (government)|minister]] of reform from 2001 to 2006, during last days had repeatedly invited people to a tax revolt against the government.

The President of [[w:Italy|Italy]], [[w:Giorgio Napolitano|Giorgio Napolitano]], issued immediately a public statement expressing “a strong call to moderation in Italian politics”. Several leftist politicians asked the leader of rightist coalition [[w:Silvio Berlusconi|Silvio Berlusconi]] to distance from Bossi's statement but a representative of Berlusconi's party, [[w:Forza Italia|Forza Italia]], [[w:Fabrizio Cicchitto|Fabrizio Cicchitto]] pointed out that “Bossi's language is usually strong and metaphorical". Similar comment came from former [[w:Minister (government)|minister]] [[w:Maurizio Gasparri|Maurizio Gasparri]] (now spokesman of party [[w:Alleanza Nazionale|Alleanza Nazionale]]) who explained that Bossi "was speaking of verbal rifles". 

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.lastampa.it/redazione/cmsSezioni/politica/200708articoli/25147girata.asp
|title=Taxes, Napolitano rebukes Bossi
|author=
|pub=La Stampa (italian language)
|date=August 27, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.politicalgateway.com/news/read/98368
|title=Italian president: 'mind your language' amid stormy tax debate
|author=
|pub=Political Gateway
|date=August 26, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.repubblica.it/2007/08/sezioni/politica/bossi-milano-capitale/bossi-26ago/bossi-26ago.html
|title="We could draw our rifles" Bossi's statement causes a storm
|author=
|pub=La Repubblica (italian language)
|date=August 26, 2007}}

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[[Category:Italy]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]

[[fr:Un dirigeant politique italien menace le gouvernement d'une révolte armée]]
[[it:Bergamo: Bossi attacca Cavour e Garibaldi e chiama alle armi i lombardi]]
Italian politics were flamed on Sunday, August 26th, by a statement from Umberto Bossi, the leader of far-right party Northern League, who said during a rally in Ca' San Marco di Mezzoldo, north of Milan, “People of this region have never drawn out the rifles, but there's always a first time”. Bossi, who had been minister of reform from 2001 to 2006, during last days had repeatedly invited people to a tax revolt against the government.

The President of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano, issued immediately a public statement expressing “a strong call to moderation in Italian politics”. Several leftist politicians asked the leader of rightist coalition Silvio Berlusconi to distance from Bossi's statement but a representative of Berlusconi's party, Forza Italia, Fabrizio Cicchitto pointed out that “Bossi's language is usually strong and metaphorical". Similar comment came from former minister Maurizio Gasparri (now spokesman of party Alleanza Nazionale) who explained that Bossi "was speaking of verbal rifles". 

fr:Un dirigeant politique italien menace le gouvernement d'une révolte armée
it:Bergamo: Bossi attacca Cavour e Garibaldi e chiama alle armi i lombardi
Italy Politics and conflicts