When the world gets closer.

We help you see farther.

Sign up to our expressly international daily newsletter.

LA STAMPA

Private Lives And Public Service, An Australian Story

The Parliament of Victoria
The Parliament of Victoria
Mattia Feltri

-OpEd-

TURIN — Everyone knew that Australian politician Rachel Carling-Jenkins had filed for a divorce, but nobody knew why. She explained it herself, a few days ago, standing up to speak before the state parliament of Victoria, of which she is a member. In February 2016 she had found images on her husband's computer of children forced into sexual acts with adults. Carling-Jenkins did not wait for her husband to come home, instead heading straight to the police to turn over the evidence.

In a voice tinged with emotion, she explained that she hadn't said anything publicly until this moment to avoid it damaging the investigation. No one in the magistrate's office forwarded any information on the case to the press, and the trial went forth anonymously, ending in a guilty verdict on charges of possession of child pornography and a sentence of four months in jail.

Carling-Jenkins said she shared the story with the public to render justice — the little that she could provide — to the young victims whose faces are forever etched in her memory, who would not be victims if it weren't for men like her ex-husband feeding this vile market. Her fellow members of parliament applauded, and walked over to give her hugs of support. It's a moving story, no?

Looking at the story here, in Italy, what's particularly moving is to discover that in Australia, an investigating magistrate does not make public the private matters of a politician, while a politician chooses to make those private matters public herself: The magistrate safeguards the rights of the guilty, while the politician safeguards the rights of the innocent.

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

Geopolitics

How Argentina Has Become China's Foothold In Latin America

China has become one of Argentina's most important trading partners and is increasing its military bases in the country. As China seeks to challenge the liberal world order, Argentina risks rifts with other key allies.

Photo of Alberto Fernández and  Xi Jinping

President of Argentina Alberto Fernández and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in November 2022

*Rubén M. Perina

-Analysis-

BUENOS AIRES — There was a media furore worldwide in February over the sighting and subsequent downing of mysterious Chinese balloons by the U.S. coastline. The unnerving affair naturally raised a question mark in countries beyond the United States.

Here in Argentina, currently run by a leftist administration with leanings toward Russia and China, we might pertinently wonder whether or not the secretive Chinese base set up in the province of Neuquén in the west of the country in 2015-17 had anything to do with the communist superpower's less-than-festive balloons. It is difficult to say, of course, given the scarcity of information on the base, but the incidents are an opportunity to revise China's presence in Argentina.

Keep reading...Show less

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

The latest