Italian Politics
L’orgoglio nazionale!
For expats living in Rome, the general election that will take place in Italy next week is a confusing spectacle. In the US we have our own brand of political chaos, which is no less distasteful. But at least the two polar opposites define very clear battle lines and so our choice is relatively easy. In Italian politics there are dozens of parties and sub-factions forming dozens of shifting alliances, all vying for the great bulk of the votes near the center of the political spectrum. Being an expat, it is tempting to just turn your head away and avoid confronting this historical moment for your host country. But of course some people just won’t be ignored, no matter how hard you try. Yes, I’m referring to “him.”
Oh no, not again!
Mani pulite? Credo di NO!
Once again we are reassured that Silvio Berlusconi holds firm to the adage, “There’s no such thing as bad publicity.” He has shown an incredible knack for drawing the spotlight away from the real issues with his Vaudeville antics and soap opera scandals—just as Italy was regaining international respect and credibility. Late in 2012, a Milan judge sentenced Mr. Berlusconi to four years in prison for tax fraud. A shallow victory for justice, because we all know that an army of lawyers are already planning to drag out the appeals just long enough for the statute of limitations to expire. Indeed, part of the judgment was supposed to prohibit Mr. Berlusconi from running for public office. Yet here he is again, like a reoccurring nightmare.
But that court case was last year, so just to make sure that the public eye wouldn’t wander too far from his tanned face, a few weeks ago—on the Holocaust Memorial Day—he stated that “Mussolini had been wrong to pass anti-Jewish laws but had otherwise been a good leader.” He makes these types of enormous public gaffs often enough that one has to wonder if it wasn’t a deliberate act of clever gamesmanship; shoring up support from the right while thumbing his nose at the people on the left who’d never vote for him anyway.
Then there was the conspicuous timing of the Mario Balotelli deal. Berlusconi recently sealed a contract for the young soccer phenom to play for his AC Milan team—and the very next day the former prime minister rose 3% in the polls. One analyst estimated that this single deed would directly translate to 400,000 votes. (Maybe more now that Balotelli has scored 4 goals in 3 games. I’m sure there’s an astute political scientist somewhere calculating a “votes per goal” ratio.)
Il Professore
Then there’s the anti-Berlusconi: Mario Monti. This is the guy that the E.U. wants to lead Italy. He’s a serious person whose personal life doesn’t make it onto the tabloid pages—apparently he’s too busy actually doing his job to throw bunga-bunga parties. Don’t get me wrong, if I’m going out for a night on the town with the boys, I’d be jumping in Silvio’s limo. Listening to Monti speak, on the other hand, seems like the cure for insomnia.
“The Professor,” looking to the future.
The international support for Monti has been unwavering, even if he’s been unable to fully realize the miracles needed to turn the Italian economy around in one year’s time. In the most recent issue of The Economist, the editors state in no uncertain terms that, “The best result would be for Mr. Monti to stay on as prime minister.” Sadly, however, he’s currently running in fourth place behind a clown, a comedian, and a communist.
For a very clear, in depth look at the electoral process (in English), check out this article: Italian Elections
It’s the economy, stupid.
So it’s not surprising that while Mr. Monti is highly-respected globally, his policies have been unpopular (to say the least) at home. Austerity measures have really riled the masses, particularly the powerful labor unions because he’s been obliged to do the dirty work that no politician has had the courage to attempt for decades. In fact, it has helped that he’s not a politician at all; he’s a professor of economics and the cold slap in the face that the country needed last year—and still needs. He didn’t cause the mess, but he’s been determined to clean it up no matter how unpopular it has made him personally. Let’s hope he gets the chance to finish what he started.
But the real problems go much deeper, into the entrenched gerontocracy that has been perfectly designed for maximum waste, epic inefficiency, and a tenacious resistance to any change. To cite The Economist again, “Italy has far too many protected economic interests, from notaries to pharmacists, and from taxis to energy suppliers. It also has too many layers of government: provincial, regional and local administrations that often duplicate rather than replace the activities of central government. A constipated judicial system makes contractual disputes impossibly long, costly and unpredictable.” And according to Sergio Fabbrini, the director of the school of government at Luiss University in Rome, the main obstacle is that, “Italy’s embedded politicians have still not acknowledged the reasons for Italy’s problems. And when the quality of the political elite is as low as it is in Italy, it is difficult to create the structural conditions for growth.”
Send in the clown (Act III)
The clown of Italian Politics
Enter once again Silvio Berlusconi, the obscenely wealthy Milan businessman with the habit of placing his ex-mistresses into prominent positions of parliament. He fills the cavernous void of leadership with his charismatic buffoonery, looking every bit the clown after all the makeup and plastic surgery. Say what you want about the man, but you have to admit that he’s damn entertaining. Furthermore, he doesn’t appear to be burdened by a sense of accountability, which gives him another advantage. And makes him even more dangerous.
But Berlusconi’s slapstick routine isn’t going to get the job done when it comes to turning the country’s economy around. He’s had his chance(s) and all he can really claim to have accomplished is the furthering of his own interests. Italy desperately needs a serious, intelligent man like Mario Monti and not a clown. Unfortunately, it looks like we could be in for a third act in this ongoing tragic comedy of Italian politics.
Which Communist are you talking about, Rick?
I’m referring to that line where you list the four candidates.
Furthermore, don’t be so sure that Monti would be the best choice ever: it is true that he did the dirty job someone had to do; but he was disappointing in drawing money out of the middle classes’ pocket and not so much out of the higher classes’. Most large businesses in Italy keep evading the taxes; which means a huge loss for the coffers of the state that is all the time fixed by taxing the medium and small businesses and the workers.
I guess you already know this
Yes, of course I was referring to Bersani (the likely winner of the election). You know, “communist” is still considered a “parolaccia” in the US, even if it doesn’t quite imply the same thing as in Italy/Europe.
As far as Monti, I like him because he’s very intelligent and has a practical approach. It’s nice to have lofty ideals, but they won’t do any good if they can’t be put into practice. I also believe that some of the things that Monti has done were bad for the middle class, yes. But he was constrained by what he could get Parliament to agree to. Sure, he would love to place a bigger tax burden on the large corporations…but the other politicians will never agree to it, so what can one man do?
But as always, Alessandra, I really appreciate your comments because you are Italian and you grew up in Italy and you understand your country and culture better than I do. I look at things with the detached eye of a foreigner, and so things appear different to me; much more “black and white.”
Grazie!
Yes, I knew you were referring to Bersani; but, though he may look like a dangerous Bolshevik to the American, he’s only palely communist. Just leftist, I’d rather say.
I appreciate Monti had his hands tied, but it didn’t seem to us he was really making the effort… I guess he’d get a somewhat greater support now.
This is what I think, not so many other Italians, for various reasons (ouch, it’s so difficult to harmonise the country!).
But, please, keep looking with a detached eye, and spare yourself ulcer!
Ha,ha! Well, I certainly don’t want an ulcer! But I really care about the fate of Italy, so it’s difficult to be completely attached. Grazie!
I totally disagree with this article………
Ciao Federico. I completely respect your opinion and I’m glad that you felt strongly enough about it to leave a comment. However merely disagreeing doesn’t add much light to the discussion. In fact, I’d love to hear you explain your point of view because honestly I’m mostly surrounded by people who share my opinion, so I don’t really get to hear convincing arguments from another perspective. Sono sicuro che tu parli benissimo l’inglese, ma se preferisci fare i tuoi commenti in italiano, ti invito a farlo tranquillamente. A presto, Rick
Today, one of the other candidates, Ingroia, plans to denounce Berlusconi. Apparently, many voters have received letters from Berlusconi’s party claiming that they will get their IMU payments back if they vote. Sounds like vote buying to me. Sadly, these kind of economic promises are what get people to the polls, and it will probably give Berlusconi a slight bump.
The real problem, in my opinion, is how politicians are elected. The electoral law is so flawed. Politicians have been promising to change it for years, but it is like asking the fox to put a lock on the door of the hen house. Italy’s real chance at proper governance divide the country into polling sectors and elect representatives from those regions so that they are answereable to their electorate. This would weaken the hold that strong regional parties have and allow smaller voices to have a say in how things are done.
Of course, all these ideas look good on paper, but the people need to be heard, and they aren’t given the chance. This is not democracy, in my opinion.
My last comment is that The Economist has a bit of a bias towards Italy in their reporting. It’s hard for us English speakers to find good information on Italy out there unless you can read Italian.
Good article — don’t forget about Beppe Grillo! He’s an interesting character in his own right and will certainly have a big impact on these elections.
Thanks, Keith, I knew that you’d be the one to ask for a clearer explanation. Yes, I’m sure that The Economist has their own agenda and their writers probably don’t have a firm grasp of the cultural influences–not to mention the language barrier, as you mentioned. I’ve been following Grillo a little and yes, he’s interesting. He obviously won’t win the election outright as the older generations would never take him seriously. But he’s getting the youth involved and forcing some important issues into the public discourse. I’d take him over Berlusca any day. It’s going to be an intersting week…
Keith, that is exactly what it sounds to you, and it is illegal, of course. But… are we really surprised by SB doing something illegal?
I got confirmation those letters have really been sent, at least some of them, since a couple of my Facebook contacts have received them. Even worse, in some provinces the gold rush has already started, so that local insitutions have asked people not to make any request of the sort, because, in addition, it is false that IMU can be refund. So, double violation!
ps: by the way, I’m a bit ‘scared’ by Grillo and his followers (if you’ve had chance to speak to some of them, they sound possessed! And he’s proving not so democratic.
I think that Mr. Parks read my blog post before writing his article. Too many similarities if you ask me. And for the record, I wrote mine first! http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/opinion/sunday/in-italy-illusion-is-the-only-reality.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0