Citizen Prodi

I forgot to mention who I met last Monday, on my trip to Rome.

I was sitting in the first class cabin of the Eurostar train from Venice to Rome on Monday morning, when the train stopped in Bologna. Passengers got off and came in, and shortly after the departure from Bologna Centrale I raised my eyes from the book I was reading to find a familiar face sitting across my table, on the other side of the cabin. Not more than 3 meters away, Romano Prodi was sitting and chatting amiably with a collaborator.

Romano Prodi, former president of the European Union, is the leader of the center-left coalition that will challenge Silvio Berlusconi for the charge of italian Premier next spring.

Nothing strange in finding Prodi on the Eurostar. It is indeed the most comfortable way to travel from Bologna to Roma, if you do not mind blending in with ordinary people. And Prodi does not mind. A different kind of man from Berlusconi, who travels only in his private (or government) jets and cars. Berlusconi himself does not mind to walk amidst his subjects, but he is usually circled by four bodyguards. None appear to be needed by Prodi, who obviously does not think he may be the object of anger or hatred.

Comments

[riqie arneberg]

While I commend these sensibilities,I would urge citizen Prodi to reconsider his travel options. Our experience with Mr Lincoln and Mr Kennedy might be instructive.