WTI Magazine #18 2014 Feb, 21
Author : Francesca Papasergi Translation by:
Some American friends of mine keep calling me up to explain what is going on in Italian politics in these days. Honestly, it is one of the most complicated questions I've ever been asked. Mr. Enrico Letta's government is no more. The Democratic Party assembly- he's one of its "founding fathers" - showed its mistrust in his ability to govern the country. He quitted his office on February 14th and Mr. Matteo Renzi, the Party's leader, is now trying to form a new government.
This process can result pretty intricate to strangers. When the Prime Minister¹ resigns like Mr. Letta did, the President of Republic is not obliged to dissolve the Parliament. Italy is not a presidential republic: the citizens do not elect their Prime minister nor their President of Republic, and these two roles have different prerogatives. On national basis, Italians only vote for senators and representatives. After the elections, the President convenes delegations from every party. Subsequently, he holds consultations with each and every one of them and then he assigns the office of Prime Minister.
Usually, the Presidente del Consiglio Incaricato ("appointed President of the Council") is the leader of the party that got the majority, but it is not mandatory. For instance, thirty years ago Mr. Sandro Pertini, the most beloved President since forever, appointed Mr. Craxi, who was just one of Pentapartito's² leaders.
Mr. Renzi was officially designated last Monday and he accepted con riserva (with reserve), like procedures prescribe. From that moment, he has ten days to consult with every party and find supporters for his government. Eventually, he must take a speech in both branches of the Parliament. If he will get the Parliament trust (fiducia), his office will become effective; if he won't, the whole process will start again.
Undoubtedly, the need to be legitimated by the Parliament, the so called rapporto fiduciario (trustworthy relation), is Mr. Renzi's main trouble today. Nothing can be taken for granted, not even in the Democratic Party: this is not "his" party. These senators and representatives were chosen by old leaders like Mr. D'Alema, Mr. Bersani, Mr. Veltroni, Ms. Bindi, Mrs. Finocchiaro and so on, people that Renzi fought day in and day out to reach his current position. He said he's going to speak to the chambers on Monday: will the old guard try to get a revenge? We'll see.
Are you confused? I can understand. So am I. We all are, here, but Italy is equally beautiful and complicated: very, very much. [TO BE CONTINUED]
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¹ Even if this expression is generally accepted, Italy doesn't have a Prime Minister. Technically speaking, he/she is the President of the Council of Ministers.
² This coalition, made up by center-left parties (Italian Socialist Party; Italian Socialist Democratic Party; Italian Republican Party; Italian Liberal Party) and Christian Democracy, led all governments throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, when Tangentopoli (literally: Bribe-Gate) blew the system up.
