Italian Elections: The Great Five-Star Surprise
In several senses, it is not difficult to understand the results of the recent Italian elections. Think of the center-right leader, Mr. Berlusconi, as an older version of Mr. Trump. At nearly 82, Mr. Berlusconi still tries to play the role of the alpha-male womanizer, while his acolytes built up a program based on building a barrier against immigrants (not exactly a wall, because there is a sea in between Italy and Africa, but the concept is the same.). The center-right is also pursuing policies akin to “making Italy great again” (or perhaps grate again, if they were referring to Parmesan cheese). In short, the Italian right and the American right are very similar, including such details as allowing citizens to bear firearms.
The left – what remains of it – is represented by Mr. Matteo Renzi, the perfect equivalent of Ms. Clinton, in terms of being both hateful and out of touch with reality. Just like Ms. Clinton, Mr. Renzi and his followers managed to conduct such an unbelievably obsolete and counterproductive campaign that one wonders whether he was actually paid by someone in order to finish off the remnants of what was once the Italian Communist party. It was a necessary outcome anyway, the only surprise was how well the Italian left played the role assigned by the Gods to those whom they want to destroy – that is, of becoming crazy. (at least, however, the Italian Dems didn’t blame Putin for their defeat!)
