Here is section two of this Manifesto for Italy discussion document on how to sort out Italy and transform it into a nation which works properly. Eaither Italy’s political leaders have no idea what to do, or, alas, they simply do not want to do what is necessary.
If you want to see section one, click here: Section one
Note that I live in Italy and have lived here for many years. You will also discover from articles on Italy Chronicles that I follow Italian politics and many other issues closely. While I would not consider myself an expert, I do know more about Italy than many others, including quite a number of Italians. Yes, that probably comes across as arrogance, but, in my defence, instead of doing what lots of Italians do which is the moan and groan, I’m proposing solutions to Italy’s problems.
Note that I do not regard the USA or the UK as ‘role-models’ and want to see the better aspects of Italy, of which there are a lot, protected and nurtured. Italy has massive potential, but it needs to change to realise it.
Here are some ideas which will help Italian politics and society in general head in a better direction.
Politics
Much greater care in the selection of political candidates needs to be taken – no convicts for anything other than minor crimes such as motoring offences should be allowed into politics or allowed to hold any public office.
Set up a candidate approval commission to vet and then accept or refuse candidates proposed by parties at national and local levels before individuals are added to party lists. Reasonable suspicion, based on investigations by law enforcement authorities, of collaboration or contact with organised crime will be enough to exclude candidates.
Tax evaders must banned from politics for 10 years and required to repay taxes in full with interest.
All candidates prior to entering parliament must swear an oath of allegiance to Italy. This oath would include agreeing to abide by ethical standards and to be impartial. If elected representatives break any of these oaths, they must resign immediately – no votes to be held by other parliamentarians in cases in which elected representatives breach the oath. Breach of oath will lead to exclusion from public office for 10 years.
An oath is taken by ministers in Italy now, but is simply not respected and is effectively worthless, as is evidenced by the conduct of PdL party politicians in the Berlusconi case. It should be an honour to serve one’s nation, instead in Italy, most politicians believe Italy’s citizens should be honoured to have them, convictions and all.
Create a mixed lay and political commission to examine breaches of oath.
All local and national candidates to be selected by binding public primaries held in their constituencies.
Political parties to create and publish a voluntary code of conduct, as Beppe Grillo’s 5 Star Movement has, laying down rules for behaviour and circumstances in which resignation is obligatory. Not respecting the code of conduct will result in politicians being forced to resign and leave either national or local government.
One single house of parliament – prime minister plus president with executive powers – similar to Finland’s political system. President to be chosen by all elected representatives and to last for life of government. President must have excellent, unblemished, political and personal track record.
Politicians who are present in parliament for less than 70% of the time will not be permitted to stand for reelection.
Lawyers representing candidates or elected politicians will not be allowed to stand for election.
Anti-red tape commission to continually review bureaucracy and establish nationwide benchmarks for all bureaucratic procedures. Regional authorities which meet or exceed benchmarks would receive rewards in terms of funding.
Public funding for political parties – but with much greater transparency and accountability. All party transactions to be published on the internet quarterly.
Conflicts of interest – all politicians, senior public officials and party employees to be obliged to declare interests. Omission of interest declarations will lead to exclusion from politics, holding public office and directing a company or non-profit organisation for 10 years.
Cronysim to be eliminated – no government jobs for parents, relatives, and friends. No relatives allowed to work in companies providing services to the government unless full declaration of interest provided and activity monitored. Breaches punishable by instant dismissal for ‘related’ employees and 10 year ban from public office for politicians and public officials involved. A fast-track appeal procedure would be implemented to ensure decisions are just.
Other ideas extracted from the suggestions of reader Kevin Fitton:
All candidates have funding limits, and reduced stipends. Candidates have term limits, so no career politicians. Like in Switzerland, recall procedure for poor performers. This will tend to attract and elect candidates with real world experience and success, who wish to serve their countries for a short period of time, rather than milk the system.
Roll back government, based on the principle that people should be responsible for themselves and their families, rather than expecting the state to provide for them. It’s called the free-market, rather than socialism/collectivism, and the Italians have traditionally believed in this ( hence strong familial ties, regionalism and a relatively undeveloped welfare system compared to many EU countries. – I’m not convinced personally free-market is the way to go and believe regulation is needed to prevent the market taking control – Alex.
As government rules, functions and waste are reduced, the natural entrepreneurism of the Italians can resume. – True – Alex.
Society
Unite Italy properly – eliminate north-south antagonism – this is extremely important and is a priority.
Encourage northern and southern towns and cities to work, cross promote and do business together – festivals, cultural events, trade fairs, education and tourism. Set clear objectives. Reward success. Solve problems. Work to eliminate petty rivalries between towns and cities throughout Italy.
Italian Unity Commission set up to establish objectives, monitor progress and identify problem areas and highlight successes.
Eradicate organised crime – set up special fast-track courts to try organised crime cases. Accessories to organised crime punished. Raise punishments and keep raising them until they function as a deterrent. Use US RICO Act as a model.
Run nationwide and local campaigns from primary school upwards highlighting the disadvantages of crime – many mafia bosses end up dead or in hiding, if not in prison. Stigmatise organised crime. Set up anonymous telephone report line for citizens to report suspicious activities.
Set up anti-organised crime commission to monitor progress and recommend legislation. This does exist more or less, and while it does excellent work, political interference hampers progress enormously. Italy’s parliament must support and champion the work of this commission.
Stigmatise and eradicate corruption – set up anonymous corruption report telephone line. Make punishments for corruption much harsher – minimum 10 years and no parole as a deterrent. Those found guilty of corruption will face 20 ban on becoming the owner or director of a business. Public officials receiving or inducing bribes to face lifetime ban from holding public office and face a lifetime ban on owning or directing businesses.
Request the assistance of the Roman Catholic Church to preach honesty and highlight that crime is a sin.
—–
Note that these proposals are not exhaustive, but are far more concrete than the vague manifestos offered to Italian voters by most of Italy’s political parties. Well, the results of decades of political ineptness are clear for all to see from the state of Italy today.
Other sections of this manifesto for Italy will follow. Comments, observations and other ideas, more than welcome.
Yes we can make Italy the envy of the world.
Alessandro says
I’m reading this with great interest, but also (as of mid 2014) a great sense of disillusionement and powerlessness. How can we hope that our government will “increase punishment for organized crime and keep increasing it until it is a deterrent”, when an estimate 67% of politicians and people in charge are colluded with them, and often are “mafiosi” as well? How can we “appeal to the Catholic church” when local clergymen make processions in honor of the Virgin Mary stop and bow at mafia bosses’ doorsteps?
I, as many italians, feel the situation is hopeless and will leave as soon as I can. I don’t care anymore for this country, it’s been ruined forever and there is also no hope on the “young generations”, as it seems young politicians are even more corrupt and inept than the old ones.
Alex Roe says
Mere suggestions, Alessandro. As you note, right at the heart many of Italy’s problems lie the nation’s politicians. They need to be changed which is something the 5 Star Movement is trying to do – though with not enough success so far.
On the subject of the RC church, at least the Pope is, finally, speaking out. This will make a difference, though not overnight. Priests whose congregations bow to mafia bosses should be transferred to the Congo as missionaries, maybe.
I know that many young Italians are unhappy – I’ve worked with quite a number of them over the years.
For now, leaving Italy is probably your only option – though by leaving, you will not be able to work to change Italy, at least not easily.
As for the younger politicians, I’m inclined to agree with you, alas. Not good.
Italy has a lot of potential but it is it’s own worst enemy and cannot seem to change this.
Good luck for your future – wherever it may be!
Alex
David says
Alex,
On politics, even more ambitiously: how about going a step further and having (potential) deputies (put forward by the parties on the basis of a thorough and transparent selection process) that people actually directly vote for? Like you, I’m British and now live in Italy too. I only recently realised that Italians only vote for their choice of PM, who draws up a “party list”, and there is no local representation as such in Parliament. All the government ministers are appointed in this way too – not a single one directly elected. I know Italy’s a lot more decentralised than the UK (what with regional governors, municipalities, provinces, you name it), but surely the concept of a directly elected local MP would be something most sensible people would agree is a pretty good thing. Italy has a very odd kind of “democracy”, to say the very least! Spain apparently is very similar.
While I’m at it, policing could do with some reform too. I know Italy has more than its fair share of organised crime, but why do we need provincial + municipal + state police + carabinieri, etc. I’d be surprised if there wasn’t some value in rationalising that lot. No matter how many “law enforcers” there are, there seems to be an amazing amount of systematic tolerance of low-level crime, e.g., driving whilst using a mobile phone, running red lights, etc. I’m not suggesting slamming in jail anyone who fails to stop at a zebra (Italy’s Italy!), but that kind of tolerance does leave people with the impression that laws are for other people. Oh, and do individual policemen have numbers (like the British police on their epaulettes)? That could come in handy as some of those guys do seem to like putting crash helmets on and having clubs in their hands…
Alex Roe says
Yes, David, that would be an excellent idea. Democracy in Italy is no more than an illusion on account of the odd lists system. Italians do not understand this though.
Some vestiges of primaries are starting to appear in Italy – 60 decades too late!
Spain is also in a mess. Coincidence?
Italy, I have been told by Italians, has to have two overlapping main police forces to prevent coups. Otherwise, Italy would have coups every other week, or that’s the impression I get!
Not sure about the numbers on the cops uniforms, will look. But if you try complaining, I am willing to bet you’ll end up in far more trouble than the people you are complaining about. Think twice before going down that route!
All good sound, sensible, ideas, but Italy is neither sound, nor sensible. Does not seem to know how to be!
Thanks for contributing.
Alex
sabine atwell says
The point that Italy has what is called ” closed lists” as does have Spain plays a major role in the disconnect between politicians and the people they supposedly represent. Therefore politicians are not under any pressure to meet with their constituents and are not in danger to be voted out or penalized when there are improprieties or worse. As long as they are loyal to the party and serve their way up through the ranks they will appear on these lists There is no real link as the parties put up the candidates and no one therefore can ” run for office.”
The same system exists in Spain with the same results of an economy and a politics that is not under any pressure. The leader of the “Comunidad autonoma of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre, a member of the PP, the ruling party recently called for change to open party lists ( as have most Western functioning democracies) and named this as the very cause of the present demise of the country as the public has no way to put pressure on politicians. They do not meet with their constituents, cannot be reached and live in a bubble, Our friends in Spain, now ready to emigrate call it a ” partidocracy”.
However, she was silenced promptly and cannot run for office as the part head Mariano Rajoy decides who gets on that list. When you ask a Spaniard who is representing him or her at the local, state
( autonomia), or federal level , he or she will look at you in amazement as this is an irrelevant point. You vote for the first person on the list- the only one really known and the rest is all set by the party.
If you check on Wikipedia as to the countries who have that system of ” closed lists”, you will find very strange bed fellows on that list but no functioning economies or democracies.
Alex Roe says
Oh you’ve hit the nail on the head, Sabine. Closed lists cause a lot of problems in Italy and elsewhere. Just about anyone can end up being elected and this has happened in Italy – you may be aware of Berlusconi’s dental hygienist who ended up as a politician albeit at regional level.
Ending or reforming the closed list system may well help ensure better quality people are elected. No sign of this happening so far though.
Best,
Alex
Welshcakes Limoncello says
Here, here, Alex! If only….
Alex Roe says
Thanks. If only indeed.