This spate of violence (Terrorist Incident forthcoming) is purported to be the worst street violence since the anti-G8 protesting turned deadly in 2001, just after Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi came to power. The anti-globalization movement in Italy remains quite strong and influential. This particular protest was sponsored by Tricolor Flame, an extremist group under Berlusconi’s right wing umbrella, called Forza Italia. The right seems to have fractured, while it was the left that Berlusconi had actually expected to implode through the 2005 change in the political system to proportional representation. The only leading ally staunchly remaining at Berlusconi’s side is Lega Nord Umberto Bossi, who himself is a contentious politician who maintains a xenophobic and isolationist platform for the northern regions of Italy. Berlusconi accused the center-left L’Ulivo (Union coalition), to include former Prime Minister Romano Prodi of “using violent means” to cause “total chaos?to stop a civilized meeting of our allies.” However, Prodi distanced himself and his Union from the violence, saying “we condemn in the strongest terms this kind of violence. It does not come from our concept of democracy and civilization.” More recently, low-level anti-globalization protests, coupled by the No TAV movement and the anti-Olympic movement, were witnessed during the Winter Olympic Games in Turin.
However, more concerning than historical incidents by the movement is the anticipated deleterious behavior?possibly from both sides of the political spectrum?for the April 9-10 national elections. With about three weeks before the election, Berlusconi has focused less on his platform and more on mud-slinging and grandstanding. Berlusconi’s popularity has spiraled downward for some time, leaving him 3.5% behind the center-right opposition in popular polls. This, before a surprisingly poor performance by the media-savvy premier in a televised debate at which he stormed out over a line of questioning, was a tremendous missed opportunity for Berlusconi. His refusal to admit that “there was anything wrong or that his government had made mistakes” (source) also likely hurt him and alienated voters. A second televised debate is scheduled for April 3. Berlusconi welcomes attention?positive or negative: he faces an indictment on corruption that is unlikely to begin for another three months; his health minister resigned over a spying scandal; and he faces criticism for what appears to be selective attendance to meetings (specifically nearly snuffing Confindustria, an influential business lobby group that includes Fiat, major national newspapers, and Italy’s largest employers’ group that welcomed Prodi just one day prior, yet hosting a celebration for his 20th anniversary purchase of his Milanese soccer team), blaming recurring back problems. Reports of failing health, underscored by his announced vacation plans in the lead-up to the second debate, will likely prove hurtful for the 69-year old Berlusconi, who long has emphasized his physical appearance.
Conversely, a more reserved and stately Romano Prodi has a long road ahead of him in trying to topple the longest service head of state in Italy since World War II. In a recent, unadvertised town hall meeting in Trento, Prodi explained his views on Italian involvement in “the war in Iraq, pensions, the economy, unemployment, crime, the family, and keeping Italy’s young engaged with society.” According to AFX, Prodi?supported by Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti?has vowed to alleviate the so-called ‘tax wedge’ felt by companies that are obliged to provide pensions and mandated benefits by five percentage points in his first year in office, alluding to additional cuts in subsequent years. This wedge, according to economists, is one of the reasons Italy has lagged behind other nations, often at zero growth over Berlusconi’s five-year term. Prodi also vows to “slash labor costs to boost growth,” according to Bloomberg.
However, according to the BBC and the Guardian, in some popular polls, up to one in four voters remains undecided in who they will support or if they will vote at all. Even Berlusconi’s erstwhile allies?namely, Gianfranco Fini and Pier Ferdinando Casini?have begun to question his chances of winning in light of his odd decision-making and “inept performance”, thus further undermining confidence in Berlusconi’s ability to lead. Regardless of the outcome, Prodi will surely come out on top as one politician who focused on what truly mattered: politics.