While reactors and power plants are currently banned under Italian law, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and others in the government are hoping to create nuclear energy, which comprises about 10 percent of the country’s power, instead of needing to import it.

Antonio di Pietro, the opposition IDV leader, however, believes that there should be a referendum that abolishes the cabinet’s decision to allow nuclear energy.  Pointing to the crisis in Japan, he believes that the construction of a power plant or a nuclear reactor has the potential to be more devastating than positive for the Italian people.

The Minister of the Environment, Stefania Prestigiacomo, said that while the fears of di Pietro and others have been taken into account, there will be no change in the plans to create nuclear power.  “We are neither blind nor deaf to what is happening in Japan” she said, while again stressing the importance of energy independence.

Berlusconi and his supporters, however, believe that the installation of power plants on Italian soil will keep costs down for Italians while helping the country become less dependent on foreign power.

Currently, policy states that before any plants are built in Italy, public opinion polls must be held in the surrounding areas.  While the results of these polls are “non-binding”, they should be taken into account before the plant is or isn’t built.  However, a poll conducted by the Ipsos institute showed that a vast majority (59%) of Italians were against nuclear power.

Pier Luigi Bersani, the leader in opposing Berlusconi’s cabinet’s current attitude regarding nuclear energy asked the government to seriously reconsider erecting power plants.

“Faced with the drama in Japan, we are asking the government to stop and think, we need a moment of reflection.”

“We have good reason to say no to the government’s plans on nuclear energy.”