Not a lot of people know this - Francesco Rutelli

February 24, 2008 · Filed Under Italian politics · 6 Comments

Apparently, Francesco Rutelli, the present Italian Cultural Affairs minister, once replaced the Italian flag which flew at Palazzo Montecitorio with that of the Vatican. I have not been able to discover in exactly which year Rutelli did this mischievous act, but it was interesting to hear about it from my former wannabe Italian politician student.

At the time of this act, which was a direct protest against the influence that the Vatican exerts on Italian politics, Francesco Rutelli was a member of a radical political party. In another radical incident, he also spent a short time behind bars after having very publicly smoked a joint, which he inhaled.

Alas it now seems that the formerly radical Rutelli has become absorbed into the repetitive instability that is mainstream politics in the Living Museum, and it is highly doubtful that he will carry out such an overt protest ever again. I suppose you could say that Rutelli has fallen upwards.

Actually, I understand that Rutelli is proposing himself as a candidate for Walter Veltroni’s former post, that of Mayor of the Eternal City. Interestingly, Rutelli has already been the Mayor of Rome, and preceded Veltroni.

In a country which regularly shies away from the new, the regurgitated Rutelli may well be in with a pretty good chance of being elected Mayor of Rome yet again.

Tags: candidate, city, flag, Francesco Rutelli, interest, Italia, Italian, Italian politics, museum, Politics, protest, Rome, Walter Veltroni

Walter Veltroni - again.

February 16, 2008 · Filed Under Italian politics · 4 Comments

Rob, over at his interesting bi-lingual blog, Wind Rose Hotel, has written a couple of posts on Veltroni, in Italian.

In the first of his posts back in June last year, Rob observed that although Veltroni is no great orator, he does appear to be an effective communicator, and is possibly good enough to counter the effects of Italy’s arch-communicator and Veltroni’s main opponent, Mr Berlusconi. And, I think what impressed Rob most with regard to what Veltroni has been saying were the vestiges of genuine sincerity which the man managed to convey.

Rob’s second post is even more optimistic, and it is my impression that Rob believes that there may be a little more to Veltroni than meets the eye. Rob’s bases his opinion on an interview Veltroni gave to the Italian newspaper il Foglio. And I have to agree that what Veltroni said does appear to be rather open and insightful for an Italian politician, old guard or not.

I really do hope that Rob’s impressions are correct, and that Veltroni has not simply been demonstrating the capacity, which all the best politicians possess, to blind the populace with carefully crafted rhetoric. Such rhetoric often turns out to be rather hollow, as after the speaker has managed to worm him or herself into power, all the magnificent promises made and ideals espoused are quietly forgotten.

Still, hope springs eternal, and hope is one of the things that propels this blogger forward in life.

I’m starting to think that giving Veltroni a chance may not be such a bad thing after all. The only alternative is Mr B, and, let’s face it, he had his chance, but did not do much with it.

Out with the old and in with the new (ish).

(Yes, I’ve had a change of heart - and maybe, just maybe, regurgitating Veltroni may not turn out to be so bad after all. Heck, I hope so, for the sake of all the great Italians I know.)

Tags: Berlusconi, blog, change, interesting, Italia, Italian, Italian politicians, Italian politics, Italy, Veltroni, Walter Veltroni

Walter Veltroni - saviour, or same old, same old?

February 15, 2008 · Filed Under Italians · 3 Comments

My brief profile of Walter Veltroni led to a couple of unexpected reactions. First, I received an email in Italian in support of the man, saying that he really is a great hope for Italy. And then, someone from Stateside asked, very nicely, how to contact Veltroni. No reason was given.

I have to admit that I’ve been quizzing a few Italians about Veltroni recently and nobody I spoke to, young or old, voiced any particular support for the man. Primarily because, he appears to be regarded as nothing new or fresh.

One young man observed that Veltroni had been in politics in Italy for 25 odd years. It is sounding, from this, and other comments, that Italians are seeing through this ‘repackaging’.

But the really worrying thing is that Italian politicians are viewed, especially by the young, as being totally out of touch with the life of the average Italian. Not good, seeing as they are supposed to be representing the people’s wishes.

I must have a look at the Italian constitution in order to see whether Italy’s politicians could be considered to be acting in an unconstitutional fashion.

Italy certainly is an intriguing place!

Tags: comment, comments, contact, email, Italia, Italian, Italian politicians, Italians, Italy, People, Politics, Walter Veltroni, young