Um, I thought I did. Until 8 p.m. last night when I turned on the news, I believed the prime minister of the country I'm currently living in was Romano Prodi. But apparently his government collapsed yesterday. It's Fashion Week here, and I thought it was safe to turn my attention to Giorgio Armani and Miuccia Prada for a while, comfortable in the knowledge that this old, broken-down boot of a country was still hobbling along under the guidance of Sig. Prodi. For those unfamiliar with Italy and its easily-toppled system of government (funny how they can't keep a government up running but Roma does manage to pay a ridiculously large number of politicians - one of the most supersized governments on Earth - some of the highest salaries around no fail month in, month out), no need for alarm. I won't be evacuating or anything. Italy's government has collapsed 61 times or so since the end of World War II. If I weren't so feverish (not from the government collape - I really wasn't that invested in the Prodi government, but Jesus, do not bring Berlusconi back - I have a cold), I'd go in search of free Fashion Week cocktails.
Note: I changed this post to reflect that - as was mentioned in the comments - Romano Prodi is the prime minister. Duh. I have seen him called "president" in some of the English-language press, but having that factual error on my blog was bothering me.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
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9 comments:
Ciao,
...e avresti fatto bene!
No need to worry, this is an old old comedy here...
just wanted to drop by and say hello.
I read your blog almost daily, and sure I don't agree with you always, I like you (for what my liking you is worth)and your gritty, spirited, fair and intelligent way of picturing Italy.
Keep up the good work and don't let the old Boot discourage you.
Un bacio
Chiara Degli Esposti also known as Chia of bologna
Thanks Chia (can I call you Chiara?)! I take that as a HUGE compliment. I like the old boot but every once in a while, it gives me a kick in the sedere and I have to fight back. Grazie, grazie - molto gentile.
Michelle
Yesterday my husband told me that the Italian government fell and I pictured all those overpaid parliamentarians falling out of their chairs. I really don't understand Italian politics at all.
I hope they find a new president of the consiglio soon.
J.Doe, the easy way to explain it is that Prodi was unable to keep his tenuous coalition (of various parties) together and thus unable to pass his bills. I guess once it becomes obvious that the president's coalition is weak and that he'll never get his bills passed, the government "collapses" - at least that's how I understand it. Prodi could have hung in there and tried to pass a few more bills, but I think he decided - for whatever reason - to bow out early to either re-form a coalition or let someone else step in.
Thanks for the explanation. I still think Italian politics are wierd, but that's probably because I was born and raised with another political system. It's just my opinion.
I was talking to my mother-in-law on Friday, she mentioned something to the fact that the average Italian politician here makes 15k euro a MONTH. I'm right with j.doe, even though I've been here for almost five years, understand practically nothing about Italian politics.
J. Doe, apparently the Italian system is more similar to the British Parliamentary system.
Ann, for the longest time, I too couldn't make sense of the political system and all of the parties here but once you do understand things (and yes, they do earn something like 10,000 Euros a month plus 5,000 Euros per month for "expenses" - I read it in the Corriere), it makes you really angry. Once again, a system that handsomely rewards those already privileged. Sigh.
Hi, Prodi is the Prime Minister, not the president (who is Napolitano) -- both play roles that don't correspond to anything in the US. Italian politics isn't "weird", just a different system that somehow makes sense for them (not for us). I took a stab at some underlying cultural reasons for these differences the other day in my blog but the mystery remains! In any case, seems that he is back for Prodi II.In the end it is a consensus building game that was played out and has come to rest.
best I can do!
Elizabeth, You are right. Prodi is the prime minister but often in the English-language press he is referred to as the "president" - I'm not sure if that's because Napolitano's role is mainly a figurehead role. But it would be more correct to call him prime minister. I wouldn't say Italian politics are "weird," but it's certainly not normal for a government to collapse 61 times in 60 years.
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