Italian businessman buys space to deride politicians

A prominent Italian businessman bought space in newspapers on Saturday to attack Italy's political class, adding to a swell of criticism of the government's failure to pass meaningful reform. In a full-page article in Italy's main dailies, Diego Della Valle, the head of luxury shoe maker Tod's, said politicians' focus on personal and party interests was damaging Italy's reputation in the world and taking it towards ruin.
"Wake up to the fact that many Italians no longer have any esteem or confidence in many of you and do not want to be represented by a political class which, with a few exceptions, has cut itself off from reality and people's needs," he said. The insertion, entitled in block capitals "Politicians, enough is enough," made no distinction along party lines.