A political earthquake in Italy

It was
unexpected, someone said. Not that Veltroni had so many chances to win – let’s
put it clear – but at the same time, the victory obtained by the Pdl (People of
Freedom –Popolo della Libertà) was so crystal clear that it surprised many.

Berlusconi’s Pdl
has, in fact, won 46.8 to 37.6 against Veltroni’s PD at the Parliament, not to
mention the 43,7 Vs. 38 obtained at the Palazzo Madama’s Senate. That Means the
Pdl can count on 340 seats against PD’s 239 at the Parliament and 168 Senators
against 130. It is a undisputable victory and it leaves no room for
speculation.  “ The right has achieved a
historical victory” Berlusconi pointed out after reading the newspapers this
morning.

During the exit
polls yesterday, everyone have noticed that, compared to last elections in 2006,
less people had voted.

According to
Nando Pagnoncelli – a political analyst – “Italians have chosen political
pragmatism, and by doing that they sent a strong message”. He thinks the lower
attendance does not have to be considered as a negative fact but rather as a
physiological trend.

Another
political analyst –Marcello Veneziani –thinks that, anyway, 80% of Italians
have voted and that is still a good average for a western country, he also
thinks that the results shows that Italians prefer a two party solution, like
during the sixties when the Pci (Partito Comunista Italiano) and the Dc
(Democrazia Cristiana) where facing each other.

That said, this
elections have unveiled something: there will be no more hammer and sickle
around in the Italian politics, neither at the Parliament, nor at the Senate. That
is surprising. Especially in a country in which the Pci has always been a very
strong Party, perhaps one of the most influential communist parties in Europe.
Don’t forget that there is a neighborhood in Moscow called “Togliattigrad”
(Togliatti being the main Pci Leaders ever). 
This is another historical achievement. For whom the bell tolls? It
seems like finally that given bell has rang for the communists, while Nepal is
turning red, Italy is shaking off the rests of the USSR influence. Can’t we
call it a earthquake?

It seems like
Fausto Bertinotti – leader of the Rifondazione Comunista Party – said while
staring at the tv screen, showing the results yesterday: “No, please, not in
this way…” . His comment was remarking the poor performance his party played
even in those regions that were once considered “red strongholds” in Italy,
such as Tuscany, Umbria and Emilia-Romagna.

As if all this
news are not enough, here’s another hint: the new cabinet will be smaller than
the previous one, according to Berlusconi: “ the new government will be formed
by an agile team – it won’t be more than sixty elements – the half of the last
government…everything is already clear in my mind”.

Who will be the
players forming the “agile team”? Gianni Letta – Berlusconi’s longtime
righthand – will be the vice-premier , “a essential person for the
government  – said the Pdl leader – a
most peculiar man, that everyone esteems”.

Giulio Tremonti
would be the Minister of Economy for the second time –while Stefania
Prestigiacomo will guide the Ministry of Equal Opportunities. Lucio Stanca will
instead be the Minister of Innovation. Gianfranco Fini will most probably end
up being the Speaker of the House and there are some rumors about the future
Foreign Minister: Franco Frattini is one of the candidates for such post, a
bird told me, though, that someone else is expected to seat on that chair.

Also, “in this
cabinet  -Berlusconi anticipated – there
will be at least four women”  even if man
are still dominating the Italian political scene as he said commenting on
Zapatero’s “too pink” government.

The key-role of
Defense Minister is disputed between Antonio Martino (former Defense Minister
during the last center-right government) and Ignazio La Russa (Fini’s  colleague).

What will be the
new government’s  first moves? Easy:
solve the main problems that have affected Italy during the last two years,
that being the garbage in Naples, Alitalia and the inflation that is causing
Italian families to lose their buying power.

“About the
crisis with inflation –said Berlusconi during a radio address – we already have
something in mind, it’s a defined project that we’ll immediately start , aimed
at restraining prices”.  The first
Council of ministers will be held in Naples to try to solve the garbage issue.
“I will spend three days a week in Naples and will leave only when I’ll find a
definitive solution to the problem [with garbage]”.

Also regarding
the inflation problem which is eroding Italian salaries, Berlusconi wants to
put an end on the infamous ( and expensive)“Ici” tax that every house owner has
to pay once a year.  Another counter
measure will be the so called “Bebè Bonus”, a one thousand euro price for each
newborn. The new cabinet will also cut taxes for overtime pay.

The news with
Alitalia are the same: Berlusconi does not want the company to “become French”
but to stay Italian (you don’t want to change to colors of the logo…). He has
often mentioned a network of Italian entrepreneurs willing to buy Alitalia, we
will see.

Walter Veltroni
has called his rival yesterday evening, he congratulated with Berlusconi for
the victory and wished him good luck for the new government . He wanted to
bring Obama’s motto “yes, we can” in Italy but, as it usually happens,
something was “lost in translation”. “Yes, we can” does not mean “It’s doable”
as the roman leftists translated it: “se po’ fa”. It means that “we can do it
together” (possiamo farcela, in italian), the only problem being: Veltroni was
running alone, perhaps it’s time for the former Mayor of Rome to find himself
some good friends?