We are in Italy. Sicily, actually. And we are watching something amazing: an Italian revolution. The new Parliament, sworn in yesterday, does not have a single member who calls himself “communist.” That’s the first time since World War II. Gianfranco Fini, the new speaker of the House, announced that the post-war era was over, and he was entirely right. No one knows it better than he, because for most of his adult life he has been called a “fascist,” and scorned by most of the writers, salon hangers-on, and politicians in the country, even though he led his right-wing party through a profound transformation from its neo-fascist past, embraced Israel, actively supported Jewish causes, and challenged the Left’s ostentatious support of radical antisemitic and anti-Israel terrorists. He dissolved his own party into Berlusconi’s umbrella organization, and is now one of the three most powerful politicians in the country. Wow.
There is more. In the last few days, the city of Rome fell to the Right. Once again, the leader was a former neo-fascist, Gianni Alemanno, who had abandoned the bad old ways. Alemanno defeated one of the Left’s most adored icons, Francesco Rutelli, who had twice before been elected mayor of Rome and who was heavily favored to win again. But Alemanno won by a huge margin, just as Berlusconi on the national level.
Why has all this happened? Above all, it is the result of the demonstrated incompetence of the Left to govern Italy effectively, along with the usual corruption scandals, and the Left’s snooty disregard for law and order, particularly regarding illegal immigrants. The people I’ve spoken to (in Sicily the Right also won an overwhelming victory) all basically said the same thing: the Left is a disaster, let’s see if these other guys can do better. It is not an ideological transformation; it’s above all a search for someone who can advance the interests of most Italians.
It’s kind of a Casey Stengel election. The Italian voters are asking if anyone around here knows how to play this game.
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6 Comments
1. a Duoist:If the return of the Right to power is not the result of an ideological switch by the Italian electorate, then isn’t the Italian Right’s new-found hold on power ephemeral in the extreme? And what will the Italian Right be able to do about the domestic political pressures to return to a devalued lira, as Germany’s economic resurgence, at long last, leaves the Italian economy limping behind? Thatcher had the answer in England (productivity measures for the trade unions), and Sarkozy is now attempting someting similar in France; but Burlusconi in Italy doesn’t inspire confidence that the Right will reform the fundamental political and economic thinking which hamstrings the Italian economy’s performance. Congratulations on winning; hope this isn’t simply another spin of the Italian electoral turnstyle.
ML:
Who knows? Berlusconi has been prime minister for five years in the past, and has not fundamentally changed anything. Can he do it this time? We will see. Certainly this is the first time he has had such a solid majority, and it seems to me that the country is ready for basic change. But change in a very old country like Italy is very difficult. But then again, this vote is very revolutionary. It will be fascinating to watch.
May 2, 2008 - 2:27 am 2. Ron Kean:You said it. The Left is a disaster.
ML:
Bigtime
May 2, 2008 - 6:01 am 3. Doc99:“…let’s see if these other guys can do better. It is not an ideological transformation; it’s above all a search for someone who can advance the interests of most Italians.”
The Italian experience parallels the thoughts of many if not most Americans. Americans are tired of both parties’ placing gotcha politics ahead of solving problems. Folks are looking for leaders, not entertainers or pundits.
May 2, 2008 - 8:00 am 4. Herschel Smith:Enjoy some good Italian wine for me while in Sicily. Hopefully they can prove that they can govern. Changes in political and ideological paradigm can come later.
May 2, 2008 - 8:45 am 5. Vince P:Similiar trends are happening in Belgium and the Netherlands. The Left is basically devoted to destroying the societies. and the Right is where all those who do want to be Islamized are gathering around. Even gays and Jews are moving very much to the Right.
May 3, 2008 - 8:12 pm 6. M.E.:The concept of “The Right” has lost any sense in Europe. It may be seemed paradoxical but just the socialist and generally leftist parties are fascist (in the classical sense of the world) as it demonstrates their “ostentatious support of radical antisemitic and anti-Israel terrorists”. I lived in Italy almost 15 years. I remember well the fall of Demo-Christian Party and first presidency of Berlusconi. I had no sympathy for him then. Now I think there is no valid alternative to Berlusconi. “Mortadella” Prodi has given “il colpo di grazia” to the Italian Left. The electoral victory of Berlusconi, Fini and Alemanno (Rome was always a feud of communists) is possible to interpret as a “reaction” but in very positive sense. Do not forget visceral anti-Semitism of Prodi and pro-Israel politics of Berlusconi. Berlusconi’s victory, I think, means also a reaction against Islamic arrogance. The Italians are tired of these foreigners who, like grasshoppers, destroy their country. What about Spanish Socialist Party that has recently won the elections? It’s another topic but I must say it: PSOE (Spanish Socialist Labour Party) is an absolutely criminal, anti-Semite and philoterrorist Party, that organized the carnage 11 march 2004 in Madrid and presented its “obra” as the revenge of Islamists for the Spanish participation in Iraq invasion. That is the great “secret” of the electoral victory of Spanish socialists (then and now). I was a direct witness of these shameful events.
May 6, 2008 - 11:46 am