It is official now: Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s current Czar, has merged his “Forward Italy” (FI) party with the fascist party that was founded by Benito Mussolini in 1922; the “National Alliance” (AN).
I could not think of a better way to promote the increasing lack of democracy in Berlusconi’s Italy.
And so couldn’t the fascists. They agreed with the merger without any fuzz or much discussion. It figures. They must also be of the collective opinion – like fascists usually do – that FI and AN are of the same political brand, and a merger therefore should only mutually strengthen them. Indeed. Italy has taken a significant step into the direction of becoming the new fascist state within the European borders.
Democracy has already been biting the dust for a while in that country. Far reaching privatisations have put many Italian institutions outside parliamentary control. And they have a prime minister – a multi millionaire and possibly even billionaire – who is an apparent law-breaker, but who shrewdly managed to immunise himself against legal action with the full consent of the people. Obviously, in Italy one has considerable room to manoeuvre if one is the richest man around.
The Italians themselves should not be expected to counteract this move. They don’t care about politics. They only care about themselves and they look up in awe to this B-man who is thoroughly screwing up them as well as their country. Berlusconi is the embodiment of this very Italian streak: look after yourself at the cost of the collective and shun no means to achieve your wins.
This is probably what you get when “La Dolce Vita” simply grows on your doorstep. Most necessities of life are met very lavishly in Italy: good food, a great landscape, immaculate wines and the most beautiful women. Is there anything else? The Italians don’t think so. So what would they care about The State or the public sector, other than to milk it out for their own gain? And democracy? Ah, the Italians don’t have much with that either. Since they are fully aware of the fact that they themselves are The People, they also self consciously know, that ruling the country should not be left to them!
I can hear those Italians think: “Why should we rule the country in the first place? Whose idea was it to bring Italy together under one national government anyway? The regions were doing fine by themselves. The only person who ever implemented an effective central government was Benito Mussolini. And he is dead. But hang on! There is another shorty with a square head, just like ol’ Ben. He’ll sort out this country, just like Ben did. Let’s go fascist in this country, just like Ben always wanted.”
Suckers. But, there is a small silver lining sitting in the far corner of this topic. Silvio has to start watching his back. In 1945, Old Benny wound up hanging upside down in a gas station in the hood of Friuli if I remember correctly. (Actually, it was near Lake Como, but it is close enough.) Apparently, there are some good Italians… err, I mean Fruilians. Not that I wish little B. any harm, but the loss of a considerable chunk of the vast estate he managed to rob together – while in public service – would suffice to settle my gripe.
Italy, that beautiful but intolerably silly country, when will it ever learn? Never, I suppose, and why should it…
