If macaroni stood for “wacko”, “nuts”, “insane”, then Italy would surely qualify. Not because of Italian moods and mores (as charming as they might be… I’ve been to Rome twice, and I’d surely go back anytime), but because of politics.
Berlusconi’s won a third term as prime minister. Who’s Berlusconi? The guy who’s cornered the market in Italy, controlling everything from the media to football. Read some very interesting portraits of the guy here and here.
But wait. It gets only worse. Gianni Alemanno is Rome’s new mayor. He’s set goals and targets for the expulsion of migrants, promising his constituency at least 20000 expelled folks in the next couple of months; he’s proudly wearing the Celtic cross round his neck (a symbol quite well known to Europe’s Far Right movement for decades); and he’s the former youth leader of a famous fascist organization. His supporters welcomed him publicly with the Nazi salute. Details about him here, and an interesting interview here (unfortunately in Romanian).
Their party – the Northern League – has a guard that’s patrolling Italian cities pretty much like the Iron Guard used to do in Romania back in the days when right wing extremism was sweeping up Europe. Mayors belonging to the Northern League have issued laws forbidding poor people to live in certain Italian towns.
What’s interesting is how, once again, nationalist rhetoric is covering up real issues at stake. Such as the fact that Italian economy is doing really bad, with figures estimating that by 2020 Romania’s economy will have become stronger than Italy’s. Or the fact that population is aging in Italy, and immigration is the only solution to tackle employment issues.
Tomorrow’s May 1st. Labour Day. Last year I was spending Labour Day in New York. All businesses in Manhattan that had hired or had any other business connections with illegal migrants closed down on May 1st, to protest against US immigration policies. The outcome: there was no way you could buy a can of Coke in Manhattan all day long on May 1st. Why? Countries need migrants to address demographic and employment issues. Both in Europe and overseas.
Should I ever become a politician, one of my main targets will be responsible migration policies. 
Photo: Gianni Alemanno celebrating victory (via BBC News)
There has come winter
It became cold and cloudy!
Mood very bad
Depression Begins
I very much love summer
Someone very much loves winter
I Wish to know whom more
For what you love winter?
For what you love summer? Let’s argue