Italian free software association asks again Italian candidates for Municipal and Regional elections to sign a pact where they agree to promote the use of free software.
The past campaigns hired first 101 candidates, and then 232 for the last elections.
MEPs candidates before the European elections have been called upon to pledge their committment to digital freedoms, 34 of them have now been elected.
The Italian Association Assoli launched a campaign to provide a reality check for MEPs to see if they are committed.
Belgium, France, Spain, and UK might well adopt a similar approach, I think.
Italian MEPs of the past legislation are told to be the best paid for least work, for sure was not easy to build fruitful relationships with most of them about digital freedom issues.
Newly-elected Italian MEPs are not much interested into these matters, only six of them actually signed the Caro Candidato Campaign (part of the “free software pact” initiative).
Marco Cappato, one of the most active on those issues, is out because his party is below the 4% threshold.
Italian MEPs elected:
Sonia Alfano, Vittorio Prodi, Niccolò Rinaldi, Gianluca Susta, Patrizia Toia, Gianni Vattimo.
Noticing that few Italian candidates signed the free software pact, I got a reaction from the Italian MEP Marco Cappato, who sent me an email to tell my readers about the importance of digital freedoms.
Ehi Rob, how are u? I signal caro candidato dot org. There is no one italian candidate by right wing:
http://www.dariosalvelli.com/2009/06/alla-destra-italiana-non-piace-lopen-source
Take care!
Assoli today announced that under the free software pact initiative 232 Italian candidates signed the “caro candidato” pact. Candidates signing it state that they favor the development and use of free software, and will protect it from threatening EU legislation.
Only 27 MEP candidates subscribed until now, I hope more will pop up before the elections, Europe needs MEPs informed on free software issues.
Roberto Galoppini is discussing. 
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