Today, the political debate in Italy concerns an issue to which only few people, since last October, gave priority, in between general laughter. But when every given morning, while reading the newspapers I step through the words of influent directors, constitutional law scholars and enlightened politicians, all of which support a “No” to the referendum, then I’m the one who laughs, and I would like to say something like “our struggle is over, it’s time for others to fight it now”. But I do not say it, we do not say it, Deborah, and do you know why? Because it appears like we can win this battle. It does not take much. It would just take an engagement, in the few days left until the voting day, by those caring about liberal democracy; and the idea that on October 8th seemed as a foolish one, will be the quantum leap for an Italy refusing populisms and shelving an extraordinarily futile parliamentary term. There is the chance for a different Italy. Only few days ago, a tweet written and shared by the Luigi Einaudi Foundation received an outstanding number of hits and likes. The only one thing we did, was making a simple numerical computing in representing possible significant statistics in case “yes” will win the referendum. In such despicable hypothesis, a number of 247 representatives and 134 senators would be enough to modify – practically indiscriminately – our Constitution, without any chance for citizens’ voice to be heard through referendum. We believe this is an apocalyptic scenario. And we are not the only ones believing it! It is now clear that the main issue underlying this referendum is not the (ludicrous) economic savings; it is not even a hypothetical more functional operativity of our institutions; and it is not even the parliamentarians’ cut this Law is called after. There is something else at stake. Differently from other alleged ‘salesmen’, I have to give credit to Beppe Grillo in being the only one calling things by their name: “I have an idea, let us just draw our parliamentarians. The first step? A citizens’ Senate. We do not need politicians” (Grillo, Il Fatto – June 28th, 2018). He also supports his arguments with erudite quotes and mentions. He did think about what he was saying and implying. And this is the reason why he is the populists’ leader, and the others are simple runts; because he is the only one with courage of his ideas. This is the standpoint we have to confront with, and that is clear to us. We have the impression that it is becoming clear for Italian citizens as well. Will authentic Politic win (Politic with a capital “P”, Croce’s, Einaudi’s, De Gasperi’s, Togliatti’s, Terracini’s, Nenni’s, Saragat’s, La Malfa’s politic), o will Grillo win? The choice is up to voters, that is exactly what the Luigi Einaudi Foundation asked for – and eventually achieved – when fostering September 20th and 21st, 2020’s Referendum.

L'articolo Our President Giuseppe Benedetto tells the true story of the referendum proviene da Fondazione Luigi Einaudi.

On a political standpoint, a very relevant data is that comparing the 97,5% YES among the Members of the Parliament to the 30% NO among citizens who voted, we can easily realize how, as a matter of fact, a conspicuous portion of the Italian electorate is not represented by the current parliamentarians. Furthermore, we notice how such 30% portion voted even ‘against’ the directives of political parties they should be represented by.

A practical analysis of the referendum results suggests that the political parties which mostly fostered the YES vote were the centre-right oriented parties, and that the Five Stars Movement did not achieve that expected wide number of votes that would have legitimized its “populist” political orientation – that once was the party’s main point of strength, and that now it’s its most clear limit.

What does all this mean?

More than 30% of the Italian citizens unambiguously affirmed that the main issue underlying our political leaders it’s not the high amount of their salaries – despite this aspect does have some kind of relevance as well – but, instead, it’s their clear lack of any political competence. Almost one third of Italian citizens desire the comeback of highly skilled political leaders, who can be able both to represent with a – at least – sufficient international trustworthiness Italians’ political representation, and to grasp all those opportunities the future will bring to our country.

This “one third” of the electorate is not currently represented by any political party! These citizens are asking us to “go back to play the game”.

It is up to political parties’ policies to be able to address the challenges the electorate sent them out. It is up to parties to try and change their skin, but not as snakes do remaining always themselves, but rather as a chrysalis ontologically changing its substantive way of being and becoming a butterfly.

Today, Italy needs to become a butterfly, putting its wings on and spreading them as to fly higher and higher, higher than how it did in the past few years, higher than populisms, way higher!

As to go back to being prestigious, respected and trustworthy throughout Europe and the whole world. Best wishes to all of us!

L'articolo The referendum is shelved, now we need to spread our wings proviene da Fondazione Luigi Einaudi.

After the fourth scrutiny, in the House of the Representatives, those voting “NO” were 2,5%. “YES” voters represented 97.5% of the House. When the referendum campaign started, this sub-division was ‘scared’, but unmodified at the same time. On one hand, “YES” supporters were, most obviously and consistently, 5 Stars Movement; incoherently, the Democratic Party; inconsistently Lega and Fratelli d’Italia; on the other hand, Forza Italia gave the most complete freedom of choice to their electorate, that implying withdrawing from the contest. The results are eventually under everybody’s eyes: not a high voter turnout, but not even a poor one; a “NO” gathering all those citizens fleeing from those party whom they should be represented by. It is not a matter of freedom (and could it even be elsehow?), but of an undisputed and a so far unfixable difference between citizens’ vote to the referendum and their parliamentarian representatives.

“YES” wins, obvioulsy. And this will not lead, as some has recklessly stated, to a parliamentarian de-legitimation, but rather it will strengthen all those volatile majorities populating it. The constitution has been modified, and this has happened without any previous agreement neither concerning the electoral law, nor related to a foreseeable constitutional reform to be sponsored by the current Government.

Eventually, those advocating a “YES” will appear for what they are: flimflam men.

We are waiting the results of the regional elections (currently unavailable), but overall, I guess things will go more or less this way: the current parliamentarian majority will keep on ‘surviving’ without a true and concrete substantial strength, while those thinking they could ram into the majority can now only stare and gaze at it.

There is one only huge and undisputed truth: the “Italy of NO” rising up despite their political parties, lacks a political representation. And this “Italy of NO” is not alone.

L'articolo Italians voting “no” lack a concrete representation. Luigi Einaudi Foundation’s position on the referendum proviene da Fondazione Luigi Einaudi.