ABSTRACT
The Latin countries of Europe—Italy, France, and Spain—have seen a wave of corruption scandals in the 1990s that deeply affected their political systems. This occurred as traditional ideological party loyalties broke down in the political arena as the need of the polarization of bourgeois parties to defend against the communist/socialist threat disappeared with the end of the Cold War. Hence, election campaigns have consequently become much more dependent on ever-new mobilization of voters, which, in turn, increased needs for party and campaign financing. A new cabinet under Berlusconi makes a desperate attempt to put themselves at the head of the campaign against the mani puliti by presenting strict anti-corruption regulations, though together with a decree for a general amnesty for allegations of past corruption. Only tight control of all investigations and strict secrecy of the allegations would prevent the instrumentalization of judicial action outside the public hearings in the courtroom.
