ITALY: Descendants of Italy's disgraced royals seek compensation for exile

The grandson of Italy's last king plans to ask the state to pay damages for his family's post-war exile. The grandson of Italy's last king knows he isn't exactly Mr. Popular for suing Italy over his family's post-war exile, and agonises over media portrayals of him as a heartless gold-digger. But, being born in exile because of decisions by a great grand-father he never met, late King Vittorio Emanuele III, Emanuele Filiberto strongly believes he and his family were wronged. He aims to file a lawsuit on behalf of himself and his father with the European Court of Human Rights within two weeks, saying the 56-year exile ending in 2002 was a human rights violation. The case has resurrected painful memories for Italians, who still blame his family for signing former Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini's race laws. Those led to the murder of thousands of Italian Jews in Nazi death camps. The Savoys fled Rome following the fall of Mussolini, leaving Italy at the mercy of occupying German troops. "I'm not saying today that Vittorio Emanuele didn't make mistakes. Yes, he made mistakes," Emanuele Filiberto said. "But what's it got to do with me?" "Must the name that you carry be your grave for ever and ever. What I am asking the European Court of Human Rights is just to tell me if I'm right or wrong (in wanting to be treated like every one else)" he added. Emanuele Filiberto, the 35-year-old prince of the once illustrious House of Savoy, insists it's not about the money. Just one euro in damages might do the trick, he said during an interview with Reuters -- suggesting for the first time he may back away from his previous 260 million euro (386 million U.S. dollars) request. "I don't even want to see the money. I'm not interested in the money at all," he said. "I could give up all the money and ask for one euro in compensation. Why not? Maybe I'll do it." he added. It's been a harsh homecoming for the House of Savoy in the five years since Italy lifted the exile, begun in a 1946 referendum abolishing the monarchy and creating a republic. Emanuele Filiberto's father, Vittorio Emanuele, was jailed and put under house-arrest briefly last year after being linked to a probe into corruption and prostitution. Failing to find evidence of wrongdoing, Rome prosecutors recommended dropping the case against him this week. Emanuele Filiberto said that he is open to "reconsider history" if the court rejects his requests. "I need (this confrontation) also to reconsider history because maybe at the moment I don't fully realise to what extent that time has been tragic for Italy," he said. "I lived outside of Italy for a long time and also I have grown up within a family that was involved in all this so maybe they'll make me understand that those times have been so terrible for Italy to the point that it is only fair that the great grandson of the king is also punished for it. Maybe they'll make me understand it by saying 'no' to my request". he explained. Emanuele Filiberto scoffed at a poll showing 90 percent of Italians oppose the lawsuit, but acknowledged that 80 percent probably do -- a grim figure for a man who wants to make Italy his home, and who just bought his first house here. Italians in the streets of Rome didn't seem moved by the Savoy's appeal to human rights. "They have nothing to ask for. They have already had a lot when they were aloowed back in Italy. They don't deserve any more." a man said. "I think it would have been better if they had stayed in Switzerland" a woman said. Some politicians suggest the Savoys should be expelled again. Others favour seeking damages from the royal family. PP/JRC

ITN Source | November 30, 2007

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