Comments on: Italian Elections 2006

By: bert

bert — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 01:39:44 +0000

My fear is not that the center-left will/would be too extreme, but that it will lack the guts it takes to steer the country away from the economical disaster.
Are you entirely sure it knows which direction to steer? Is agreement on this question even possible within the Unione?

Marco, given what you say about the last five years, it’d be interesting to see your reply to Ben P’s comment on the other thread. Ben is kind of self-effacing (”ignorant outsider” he calls himself), but his question is asked by a lot of Europeans, myself included: how has Berlusconi done it? His media dominance doesn’t hurt him of course, but there’s more to it than that, isn’t there? My theories, such as they are, are based on thin reading and brief visits - a firsthand view’s way better.

By: marco

marco — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 17:41:11 +0000

Bert, I do not think that there are real risks that the Unione would be hijacked, so to speak, by the extremes.
I do not have any sympathy for the extreme left (and even less for the extreme right), but it seems to me that the fear of an extremist government should apply more to the center-right than to the center-left.
My personal opinion is that in the past 5 years Italy *did* have an extremist government, e.g. in the lack of shame and in the capability, in Italy and abroad, of outraging everyone who was not an hardcore Belusconi supporter.
I agree that Italy needs drastic economical reforms, and therefore a government that is strong and brave enough of promoting them.
My fear is not that the center-left will/would be too extreme, but that it will lack the guts it takes to steer the country away from the economical disaster.
Having said that, I will vote for center-left, that IMO represents the only (tiny) chance for Italy to get back in the right direction.

By: windrosehotel

windrosehotel — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 04:42:06 +0000

Bert, this is a very good question, may be the main question. And I’ll bear it in mind for one of the next posts.

By: bert

bert — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 19:52:17 +0000

Thanks for this. Good to see you’re planning on more posts as the campaign goes on, I’m looking forward to it.

“Ten, one hundred, one thousand Nassiriyas”
Ugh. As you say a difficult choice when presented in these terms. Between a crook and some fascists, maybe. My question is, how much influence do the crazies have inside the Prodi coalition? Perhaps the problem with the Unione is not so much its extremes but its lack of a centre. The manifesto - a bloated compromise - seems an ominous sign.
If Prodi wins, who will govern?

By: Tim

Tim — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 22:44:48 +0000

It’s going to be really interesting with the pending investigation of the present Prime Minister and David Mills.
I raise my glass and toast the both of them for some interesting blog topics which will be available soon.

By: Wind Rose Hotel

Wind Rose Hotel — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 06:06:23 +0000

Claus, as far as I can see, in your remarks there is stuff enough for two or three essays. But, since some of your “how can this be possible” feelings are similar to those of many Italians, and I am one of the “incredulous,” I couldn’t be that essayist. Yet, I would like to give, in the next letters to AFoE, some information and a few opinions, tying to make it a little more easy, for non Italian readers, to understand the main issues of the Italian campaign.
But, I’m afraid, even such a minimalist approach is not going to be easy. Nevertheless, since I accepted the challenge, I will do my best not to be too elusive.
Best
Rob

By: CapTVK

CapTVK — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 05:11:07 +0000

Maybe Prodi can do a better job then Berlusconi did but somehow i have the feeling it will be politics as usual.

Whoever wins sure has his work cut out for him, that´s for sure.

By: claus vistesen

claus vistesen — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 03:34:54 +0000

This is really excellent I think …

I have always thought Italian politics to be quite interesting yet I have always lacked the understanding to cope with dynamics.

Sometimes when I read an article in the Danish press and/or see a report on television I am left with a “how can this be possible” feeling. A couple of examples …

1. Generally, how has Berlusconi been able to do some of the things he has done and still stand up smiling.

2. Why did it take so long before Fazio left office; i.e. it took Siniscalco’s resignation.

A question to get the dicussion started …

How will the North - South divide in Italy affect these election; will we see the traditional picture or some changes.

looking forward to hear more.

By: Wind Rose Hotel

Wind Rose Hotel — Mon, 06 Mar 2006 23:22:13 +0000

An update
In today’s Financial Times:

Italy’s economy has “run aground” and must improve its productivity to reverse the relative decline of Europe’s fourth biggest economy, Mario Draghi, the new governor of the country’s central bank, warned at the weekend.
Speaking only five weeks ahead of a general election likely to be a bitter and close-fought contest, Mr Draghi spelt out the seriousness of Italy’s problems, saying: “Gross domestic product did not grow [last year], our products lost even more world market share and the budget deficit increased.”
[...]
According to an Abacus-Sky TG24 opinion poll last Thursday, the opposition holds a 51.5-47 per cent lead over the government, the same advantage that it had a week earlier.

This would be enough to give the centre-left a majority in both houses of parliament.
Read the rest