The Italian opposition managed to stall a vote on the controversial tax fraud amnesty yesterday, but today the law should go through parliament.

Parliamentarians demonstrated in front of the chamber derssed as mafioso. “Parliament is aiding and abetting bands of criminals; this is like state-sponsored money laundering,” said former corruption-busting judge Antonio Di Pietro. The tax authorities estimate 300 billion euros have been secreted away abroad, half of it in Switzerland. But Di Pietro has been criticised by some for bringing parliament into disrepute. “We are sure that the President will sign this amnesty into law. These are measures that have been adopted in many other countries without causing the scandal the Italian left is stirring up,” said Italo Bocchino of Silvio Berlusconi’s Popola della Liberta party. But for those who still intend to make the journey into Switzerland with cases of cash, gold, or jewellery Italian police have set up licence plate radars at the border to catch the tax dodgers.More about: Italy, Parliamentary debate, Tax evasion

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