Umberto Eco: “The solidarity in Europe decreases” – tagesschau.de

He was a pioneer in Europe and a convinced European, says Umberto Eco. spoke with the bestselling author – on Italian and European politics, old successes – and about his new work “zero point”

ARD: In your new book is about a newspaper that will never appear and should. How do you come up with this idea?

Umberto Eco: Now, many newspapers are used for blackmail, the publication is no longer necessary. I was a true story inspired. It was in the 70s a gentlemen named Pecorelli, who ran a sort of press agency. He gave out a bulletin every day. And this bulletin has not been published, we got it at any kiosk, it just landed on the desks of politicians and hinted that Pecorelli knew a bit more money and therefore expected. Someday Pecorelli has been murdered. As you can see, you can also extort without publishing. The threat alone, it could end up in the newspaper, is sufficient.

From Berlusconi, Murdoch, moguls

ARD : set the publisher remember Vimercate in her novel to the media mogul Silvio Berlusconi?

Eco Now, if you like, yes. But the principle is: Such types there are many. Just think of Rupert Murdoch. If the Germans have developed a passion for Berlusconi, they may like to think of Berlusconi. If my book, however, survive a millennium – or even as long as Homer’s poems – nobody

German Your novel is set in 1992 – at the end of the so-called First Republic. A year of change after this gigantic scandal has been exposed to corruption, abuse of office, illegal party financing. Do you remember how you felt at that time?

Eco You had the impression, there was indeed a turning point. Politicians who were untouchable until then were brought to justice. But nothing happened. There are further corruption – with a little difference: Until 1992 the politicians were lubricated and thus finance their parties. . Today they give the money for off

The collective ethics Damage taken

German By 1992, even the rise of Berlusconi began. Has Berlusconi Italy changed or it is just an expression that Italy has changed

Eco: was my opinion, and he is an extremely shrewd man which looks through the course of events and makes advantage of. He understood that he would have success with the promise to pay any more taxes. “You are innocent!” That was his message. He is responsible for ensuring that the collective ethic has been damaged

ARD:. Now Matteo Renzi Italy wants to reform, to bring in a different direction. What do you think of Renzi?

Eco Renzi has the merit of having enforced accelerations. Whether good or bad, it leads reforms. Berlusconi has 20 years which promised but never carried out which. Renzi is therefore the first assertive politicians by the politicians of the postwar period, with all faults, all the problems. If you want to express it pessimistic: it is a necessary evil

Loses Europe the sense of solidarity

ARD.? : Let’s talk about Europe, which is experiencing a serious crisis. First Greece, but now mainly in the refugee crisis the European partners seem to agree on any common ground. Is the European project failed?

Eco I am a pioneer in Europe, we have always been a special European generation. I am always a convinced European. Together with Habermas I have supported many initiatives. At this moment, I am very pessimistic, because the sense of solidarity decreases. And with no sense of solidarity no longer works Europe. So I’m just very concerned

ARD:. In Germany, each with the name of Umberto Eco connects your bestseller “The Name of the Rose” , Nervt you mean?

Eco And how! If I could save all of my novels only one, I’d save the “Foucault’s Pendulum” and not the “Name of the Rose”. The novel pleases me better, he is more mature. But that’s a fate shared by many writers. Gabriel Garcia Marquez wrote beautiful, very good novels, “Hundred Years of Solitude” has remained. Thank that is so issued. The problem is, you would not have the first, but only with the last success. Woe to you if you have the first book of success!