Francesco Cossiga has long since given up on making sense. He's terminally infatuated with his own wit.

There was a massive demonstration in Genova this weekend asking for a parliamentary investigation into G8. There were no incidents. The police kept out of sight, a sign of the times under Manganelli.

The institution of a parliamentary investigation is in the Union program but has been vetoed by the Centrists especially Mastella who has menaced to leave the coalition over it. It's one of the bitter pills the Left has had to swallow. Since it's part of the program, Mastella is going to have to eat crow. Like many Leftist points in the Union program, such as the Italian PACS (called DICO), the promises have been postponed. Prodi's primary concern is to modernize Italy through economic, industrial and consumer reforms. Civil stuff and redress is on the back shelf.

What you've said about the actual incidents in Genova corresponds essentially to fact. Of course, judiciary truths are an entirely different matter.