SILVIO BERLUSCONI’S victory in Sunday’s Italian general election is no surprise; the polls predicted it. But it is a shock.
The Italians have sacked a capable middle-of the-road government in favor of the country’s richest businessman around whom there are too many unanswered questions about where his money came from, who his friends are, whether he has been involved in criminal activities and whether the conflict of interest between him being head of government and the country’s media magnate can be resolved. Quite apart from that, there is no reason to believe him up to the job. His last period in office, back in 1994, ended after just seven months following a UN conference on organized crimes in Naples at which he was handed an indictment on corruption charges. In any event, it was anything but a trailblazing seven months.
Berlusconi claims that the various charges against him are politically motivated. Maybe. But when there such allegations abound, it is far more sensible to adopt a wait-and-see attitude. The jury is out on Berlusconi’s possible illegal activities. Several cases involving him are pending. Moreover, he is known to be anything but innocent. He was found guilty on three corruption-related charges, although conveniently the convictions lapsed or were quashed as a result of the country’s arcane appeals system. It is beyond comprehension that Italians could ignore this, as if criminality does not matter. But they have. They have been lured by glitz — the glitz of a self-made man with all the trappings of success: a glamorous wife, villas in abundance, a private jet and even his own football team, AC Milan. They have effectively said: “Who cares is he is a crook? He is successful”.
That is an attitude that no country can afford. It is the slippery path to corruption in the highest places and national destruction. There are other reasons to worry about a Berlusconi government. His allies include the xenophobic Northern League which, although it almost failed to make it into parliament, will have to be rewarded with seats in government; and then there is the other ally, the National Alliance; its leader Gianfranco Fini, formerly leader of the neo-fascists, now supposedly converted to more liberal views, is tipped to become deputy prime minister.
On paper at least, this promises to be a government of narrow nationalism and bigotry. It certainly will be a major headache for Europe. Berlusconi and his allies have said that they will not follow any agenda from Brussels if it is not in Italy’s interests; that includes maintaining the monetary discipline needed if the euro is to work. One thing though, is certain. This could turn out to be one of the most timid of Italy’s 58 governments since 1947. For months to come, as stories emerge about corruption and court proceedings take place, he, not his policies, will be the big issue. Indeed, it will be surprising if the coalition lasts. The Northern League and the National Alliance are rivals.
Furthermore, there will inevitably be a conflict between the government’s nationalist agenda and the needs of an economy which is indissolubly linked into the wider European marketplace. The Italians think they have got a glitzy prime minister who will bring them success. All they have got is a outrageously ambitious man who will certainly bring them notoriety; and quite possibly fresh humiliation.
