ROME (AP) A month after his first giveaway, maverick Italian politician
Marco Pannella was back handing out money, this time to anyone willing to
line up under the hot sun for a holiday handout.

Pannella, founder of the Radical Party and now leader of the Pannella List
party, gave away what his aides estimated was $85,000 on Friday as most of
the city was deserted for a national holiday.

Thousands lined up in the square outside Rome's city hall atop the
Capitoline Hill to receive a 50,000lire ($28) note.

Last month, Pannella, who's been nicknamed Robin Hood, gave away $110,000
in northern Italy.

The giveaways with three more planned for northern Italy in coming weeks
are part of his campaign to reform the financing of political parties.

Pannella has used stunts before to make his point. Several years ago, he
distributed free marijuana at a Roman flea market to get publicity for his
campaign to legalize the drug.