Swiss watch giant Rolex demanded a
"correction" from Premier Matteo Renzi and Interior Minister
Angelino Alfano Wednesday for comments last week when they
blasted "hooligans with Rolexes" and "daddy's boys with a Rolex"
for taking part in violent Black bloc 'No Expo' protests.
There was no immediate reaction from the premier's office
to the request made by Rolex Italia managing director Gianpaolo
Marini in an open letter published in full-page advertisements
in Italian daily newspapers.
But Alfano said he was "surprised" by the Rolex
advertisements, saying the original comments were made to
emphasize what he called "contradictions and inconsistencies"
within last Friday's protest.
"There is no controversy," said Alfano.
Marini denounced what he called an "unacceptable conflating
of the image of Rolex with the devastation of Milan and the
universe of subversive violence".
He asked the premier and interior minister for a "courteous
declaration of correction".
Photographs of a protester apparently wearing a luxury
watch identified by the media as a Rolex were not good enough
quality to ensure "reliable identification" as an authentic
example of the famous brand, Marini added.
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