Sergio Cofferati Quotes

[...] comics, perhaps out of snobbery, literary superficiality or simple indifference, are always considered second-rate, a pastime for the masses, a poor art form and therefore too often mistreated. Well, I repeat, for me this is a mistaken judgement. Example: Dino Battaglia interpreted great classics from Melville to Maupassant to Rabelais, and his work was truly a unanimously recognised masterpiece, a magnificent work.

This government does not merely want to break up the trade union movement, it wants to change its very nature. It began by saying that the CGIL is not a trade union but a political force: ridiculous!

[...] i fumetti, un po' per snobismo, forse per superficialità letteraria oppure per semplice qualunquismo vengono sempre considerati una roba di serie B, un passatempo per la massa, un'arte povera e quindi troppe volte bistrattata. Ebbene, lo ripeto, per me è un giudizio sbagliato. Esempio: Dino Battaglia ha interpretato grandi classici da Melville a Maupassant a Rabelais e il suo lavoro è stato veramente un capolavoro unanimemente riconosciuto, un'opera magnifica.

While political representation is becoming increasingly rare because parties are becoming lighter, even fluid, according to some, resorting to the streets on major issues is becoming almost a necessary outlet for voters who no longer have places and tools through which to express their opinions. Interviewer: You mean that without mass parties, the only option left is the streets? Cofferati: The streets become the main place where people can express their ideas. Interviewer: But isn't there a risk that protest will have no effect? That it will become a mere outlet? Cofferati: That wouldn't be a bad thing or a cause for concern. A demonstration can also bring about change.

(Sulla protesta dei calciatori) Non si può idolatrare il campione la domenica perché fa vincere la tua squadra e dimenticarsi che magari la sera prima è stato trovato ubriaco a fare a pugni e poi quando lui stesso con i suoi compagni cerca di difendere i diritti di tutta la categoria, soprattutto di quelli meno forti e ricchi, gli si risponda che non possono perché sono ricchi e viziati. Lo avrei capito se avessero chiesto altri soldi, ma per la prima volta si battono per dei diritti, non per motivi materiali: è una novità e va ammirata.

I consider this accusation not only unfounded but also offensive to this organisation and its history. The Italian trade union is an enemy of terrorists and is considered by them, not surprisingly, as one of the targets to be explicitly fought. The reason is easy to understand for those who want to see it. The CGIL, and other trade union and social organisations, fought to eradicate terrorism from Italian society, even when terrorism was strongest and most deeply rooted in society. When it tried to penetrate the world of work to gain cover and influence behaviour. It would not have been defeated in the 1970s and 1980s if there had not been a clear and unhesitating decision by the trade union to confront terrorism and violence head-on.

We must be extremely rigorous in prosecuting crimes, and equally rigorous in not allowing crimes to be exploited.

(Sul governo Renzi) Penso che sia un governo di centrosinistra che produce politiche non condivisibili per una parte dei suoi elettori.

Interviewer: The CGIL and its secretary are accused of having political motives. Of wanting to ally themselves with judges and the ‘girotondi’ (protesters). Cofferati: These are unacceptable accusations. I contest choices that I believe to be wrong on their merits; they continue to say that the CGIL is not doing its job as a trade union, that we have a political strategy. The right to criticise cannot be demonised. And there is a misguided underestimation of the role of social representative organisations. The government has a duty to pursue its objectives, but it must know that if part of the social representation does not share these objectives, a break and then conflict are inevitable. I would never dream of contesting their legitimacy to govern, but they cannot contest the legitimacy of my right to oppose them with the rules of democracy and a practice established over many decades.

Interviewer: ‘Wasn't it a mistake [...] to claim that Biagi collaborated with both the government and Confindustria?’ Cofferati: In claiming, as I did, that there is collusion between Confindustria and the centre-right government, I expressed a political opinion. Nothing more and nothing less, nothing to do with individuals or relationships with individuals. I was and still am convinced of this. And what I said about Professor Biagi was simply an objective fact: he was the coordinator of the group that drafted the ‘White Paper’ and was also a collaborator of Confindustria. The professor's death affected me deeply; I am not affected by accusations that I consider completely unfounded. I never considered Biagi an adversary: he was a valuable expert.

Questo Governo non vuole soltanto la rottura del movimento sindacale, ma il suo mutamento genetico. Ha cominciato col dire che la CGIL non è un sindacato, bensì una forza politica: ridicolo!

(On the Renzi government) I think it is a centre-left government that produces policies that are unacceptable to some of its voters.

Quella di Stefano Rodotà è una candidatura di alto profilo, in grado di rappresentare adeguatamente il Paese anche a livello europeo e internazionale. Il lavoro e i diritti che gli danno dignità, il valore della cittadinanza e i fondamenti della Costituzione sono da sempre parte rilevante della sua cultura.

When peace is threatened, it must be defended. The invader must be stopped. In Ukraine, there is a violent, destructive invasion of a defenceless population. Therefore, we must use all the tools that the situation calls for: diplomatic action, economic and financial sanctions against the invader. At the same time, we must help those under attack with relief measures and by strengthening their ability to defend themselves, including through military aid and the supply of weapons.

Interviewer: 'What do you think when they accuse you of wanting to strike against Marco Biagi's ideas? Cofferati: I don't think anything. It's a statement that offends me.