In 1993 Berlusconi took up politics because his business empire could not survive after his his politician friends had been removed from power by a series of anti-corruption inquiries and trials. It looked likely he'd end up in prison for corruption, money laundering and mafia-related activities so he entered the political arena to exert power directly, with no mediations, and changed laws to protect his interestes.

After the brtual repression of the anti-G8 protest in July 2001 and the 9/11 attacks shortly after, Berlusconi jumped on the War On Terror bandwagon to join the US alliance despite more than 80% of the Italian population opposing the illegal invasion.

Without a doubt, Berlusconi has been the worst thing to happen to Italy since the rise of Fascism. The country has had enough but with the media in Berlusconi's pockets who knows what will happen. It certainly wouldn't be the first election to be rigged. However, even if he wins, he faces a crisis.

Berlusconism has been encountering mounting resistance from civil society, associations, circles of friends, grassroots communities, small institutions, blogs, and 'alternative' media networks. Even within the mainstream, dissent is pushing it's way to the surface.

In November 2003, the public TV channel, RAI,starting broadcasting a late night comedy show called RAIot (apparently pronounced 'riot') Weapons of Mass Distraction. Featuring comedian Sabina Guzzanti, the show was a detailed indictment of Berlusconi's power and a description of the dubious ways the tycoon had financed his media group.

Berlusconi's media group Mediaset took legal action against the comedian, and a representative of the corporation stated that Guzzanti had disseminated "lies and extremely serious insinuations", which had "harmed the honour of a company registered on the stock exchange".

The remaining show were cancelled by RAI, afraid of a massive payout to Mediaset. Outraged, bloggers and the alternative media led to mass protests across the country in solidarity with Guzzanti. When it came to court, it was ruled that the legal action had been groundless and that no slanderous and no false accusations had been made.

Taking inspiration from these events, Guzzanti went on to produce a documentary about freedom of speech in the age of Berlusconi. Provocatively titled Viva Zapatero!, the film was released in 2005 and has been screened throughout Europe. It has not however managed to secure a general release in Italy although it has been screened at social centres etc around the country.

Tonight (Thursday 6th, April) at the rampART community cinema in London you can watch the film yourself. The screening starts at 8pm and entry is free as usual.