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Berlusconi wins, Italy pays the cost
The Italian Prime Politically, however, he has never been and the increased participation of private
weaker. The creation of a vaguely centrist business in academic institutions. Some pub-
Minister is beset by alliance (dubbed the “third pole” by media lic funding is being diverted to private univer-
commentators) – to challenge the Prime sities. Workers are still trying to cope with the
scandals and economic Minister is a significant development. It is led effects of the global economic crisis that are
by Gianfranco Fini of the new Future and far from settled.
travails but still he Liberty party, Pier Ferdinand Casini of the Berlusconi has been resorting to the one
Roman Catholic UDC, and Franesco Rutelli thing he can do rather well: to seek to reach a
clings on to power, of the small Alliance for Italy. The first two are consensus using a range of means, regardless
former Berlusconi allies. The latter is a former of their ethical and social costs. In a never
says Giuseppe Veltri prominent figure in the main opposition fully realised democracy such as Italy’s, where
party, the Democratic Party (PD). Their large areas of the country are controlled by
alliance is a sign of the fluidity of the current nepotistic appointments and organised crime,
political scene. and where so much regulation is no more
T
he recent confidence vote held by For some time, leading members of the than apparent, Berlusconi’s strategy has been
Italian MPs presented us with a vivid economic and financial establishment have a winning one for 16 years.
picture of Prime Minister Silvio been expressing unease about Berlusconi’s By exploiting Italy’s worst instincts,
Berlusconi’s political style. His supreme aim governance of the economy. Pressure on Berlusconi has severely weakened an already
of not compromising his political and person- Italy’s public finances from European fragile civil society. He was already imposing
al interests overrode anything else, including institutions is still considerable. Although the his cultural values on the country with his var-
the national interest. Buying and influencing country is not on a par with Greece, ious televison channels a decade before he
the votes of Italian politicians is possible, Berlusconi’s government is confronted by became a politician.
thanks to a grey area of almost one-man par- some severe economic problems. He has influenced how the opposition par-
ties that are sensitive to any rewards a govern- In addition, during these episodes of polit- ties approach politics. They have resorted to a
ment might offer. That is how Berlusconi sur- ical manoeuvring, major demonstrations of strange mix of realpolitik and unethical
vived avote of no confidence vote by a margin students and workers have shaken Italian behaviour in their unsuccessful efforts to
of three votes and secured the continuation of democracy. Students oppose Berlusconi’s undermine and defeat the Prime Minister.
his government – at least for now. reform of state universities that includes cuts They have come to see Berlusconi as their
Three million people marched in the CGIL union rally against the Italian government in Rome last year. Photo: Reportdigital.co.uk
22 | Tribune | 14 January 2011
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great enemy and this is the justification for
compromise of almost any sort on the part of
his opponents as they seek to bring him down.
In selecting their candidates of office
under the current electoral system which has
some horrific shortcomings, they have turned
to people who were never really motivated by
any concept of public service. So it is hardly
surprising that Berlusconi has been able to
buy off some of these political mercenaries
without too much trouble.
Without strong leaders, and having been
unable to establish a strong anti-Berlusconi
consensus even when the Prime Minister has
been in deep trouble, has left the opposition
parties in limbo.
Modern Italy is a very divided society –
second only to the United States and Britain
in terms of inequality, as far as Western
democracies are concerned. Scepticism and
cynicism are rife, with the all implications
that has for political life. Italy is characterised
by sectional interests and unhealthy localism
among its constituent parts. The social
ties that once held the country together are
unravelling.
These are being replaced by the scarcely
hidden secessionist agenda of the Northern
League in the north of the country. Further,
there may be a generational confrontation
between protected “old workers” and precari-
ous young ones. It may be a case of Italians
versus immigrants. Such phenomena threaten
the future of the country.
Many of these problems predate
Berlusconi. However, his government stands
guilty of exacerbating them rather than The controversial Silvio Berlusconi faces some severe economic problems
attempting to tackle them. He has even tried
to legitimise and capitalise on some of the to form the Popolo Della Libertà (PDL or terrible earthquake that destroyed the city
widening fractures in the Italian social fabric. People’s Freedom Party), he probably expect- of l’Aquila.
A great challenge faces those who seek to ed Berlusconi to share leadership or at least Berlusconi’s dream now is to end his polit-
replace Berlusconi’s style of politics with a give him a significant say in running the new ical career as president of the Italian republic
more democratic and inclusive kind. So far, organisation. Neither happened. and thus join the line of the nation’s “found-
sadly, they have failed to rise to it. The credibility of Italian politics has not ing fathers”. To accomplish this, he is willing
A combination of disappearing grassroots been so diminished since the time of for the country to pay a tremendous price –
organisation in the political parties, with Tangentopoli – the wave of corruption scan- having a virtual zombie government that
exception of the Northern League, a lack of dals and ensuing investigations that almost shields him and gives him immunity so he
political vision and an enduring but immov- wiped out an entire political cohort. It led to evades the many charges against him.
able group of leaders has resulted in a dull and the collapse of the hitherto dominant Berlusconi may have won a confidence
largely ineffective opposition. So it was no Christian Democrats. vote, but Italy lost another chance to address
real surprise when Berlusconi’s first real chal- Now scandals break on an almost monthly its deep-rooted and dramatic troubles.
lenge came from a former friend. Gianfranco basis involving political allies or subordinates
Fini comes from the post-fascist Alleanza of Berlusconi, including Guido Bertolaso, the Giuseppe A Veltri is co-editor with Andrea
Nazionale (National Alliance). When he director of the Civil Protection body respon- Mammone of Italy Today, The Sick Man of
decided to merge his party with Berlusconi’s sible for response and reconstruction after the Europe, published by Routledge
“A great challenge faces those who seek to replace Berlusconi’s
style of politics with a more democratic and inclusive kind”
14 January 2011 | Tribune | 23
