Analysis

Politics Isn’t Fair, Italian Edition

The Democrats are unpopular despite governing the country well. Incompetent populists are up in the polls.

Nick OttensNick Ottens
Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi answers questions from reporters in Rome, December 10, 2015
Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi answers questions from reporters in Rome, December 10, 2015 (Palazzo Chigi)

Giuliano Ferrara, founding editor the center-right daily Il Foglio, writes about the Italian election for Politico:

  • The center-left Democrats have governed the country capably. Many of the structural reforms recommended by the EU have been implemented. Unemployment is falling. Incomes, investment and productivity are up. As a consequence… the party is highly unpopular.
  • The anti-establishment Five Star Movement has failed over and over again, most spectacularly in the city government of Rome. So… they are the single most popular party.
  • On the right, Silvio Berlusconi and Matteo Salvini have failed to provide the appearance of being anything but a motley crew hastily assembled around a patchy political program. And because of that… they are viewed as the safest, most responsible choice.