Italy’s Dodgy Christian Democrats – Still Around Today

Key Facts

The **Christian Democrats** have maintained a significant presence in Italian politics, despite scandals in the 1990s aimed at reducing corruption. Political activist **Beppe Grillo** argues that the major parties in Italy are essentially the same, perpetuating a cycle of corruption. Italy's political landscape shows a **lack of genuine choice** for voters, as many politicians from both the left and right share a common **Christian Democrat** background.

Back in the early to mid 90s one heck of a furore erupted in Italy and led to the now infamous bribesville and clean hands scandals which appeared to bring the domination of politics in Italy by the Christian Democrats to an end. Only in reality, this did not happen.

Italy’s justice system has been moaning that levels of corruption in Italy have not fallen ever since scandals rocked the wonderful world of Italian politics two whole decades ago.

Now, why is Italian politics as corrupt as it ever has been? What a good question! One answer could be that the very same people, or rather, the very same mentality, it still central to Italian politics today. In other words, while the bribesville and clean hands scandals rocked Italy’s political boat considerably, the dirty bilge water remained within the hull, or should that be hulk? In actual fact, the bribesville and clean hands investigations and prosecutions were allowed to fizzle out, so the rot remained.

The only person to have noticed the rot and to have shouted about it, is ex-comic turned political activist, Beppe Grillo.

Grillo claims that Italy’s two biggest political parties are one and the same. Ridiculous, shout certain Italians who gleefully vote for what they believe is a centre-right and a centre-left, over and over and over again. What these poor innocent voters simply do not realise or refuse to acknowledge is that Beppe Grillo is right. Look no further than good old Wikipedia.

What follows is a list of the ex-Christian Democrats and those considered to be Christian Democrats in the supposedly centre-left PD party. Then there is the list of ex-Christian Democrats and those considered to be Christian Democrats in what was Berlusconi’s PdL party.

There are actually slightly more Christian Democrats in the reputedly left-leaning PD or Democratic Party than in the apparently right wing PdL – which has not become Forza Italia again plus a few spin-offs.

If you scroll down the long lists far enough, you’ll find out that both Italy’s current prime minister Enrico Letta and Italy’s deputy premier, Angelino Alfano, fall into the Christian Democrat camp. You will also find out that pretender to Italy’s prime ministerial throne, Matteo Renzi is regarded as a Christian Democrat.

Get ready to scroll!

PD Democratic Party – All the Christian Democrats

A

B

C

D

F

G

I

L

M

N

O

Nicodemo Oliverio

P

R

S

T

V

Z

171 ex-Christian Democrats or new Christian Democrats.

Stop scrolling for a moment:

PdL People of Freedom – All the Christian Democrats

Here are the Christian Democrats who were in Silvio Berlusconi’s former PdL now Forza Italia stroke New Centre Right parties:

A

B

C

D

E

Giuseppe Esposito

F

G

I

J

Giorgio Jannone

L

M

N

Osvaldo Napoli

O

Franco Orsi

P

R

S

T

V

Z

135 ex-Christian Democrats or new Christian Democrats.

Odd, isn’t it, how so many Christian Democrats ended up on both the centre-left and centre-right of Italy’s political spectrum?

One explanation for this surprising situation is that there is no real centre-left or centre-right. Maybe all that happened after the scandals of the 1990s was a kind of power sharing agreement?

When you see the composition of Italy’s parties a) it comes as no surprise they now form part of the same coalition b) the lacklustre opposition of the PD to Berlusconi suddenly becomes understandable and c) the composition of Italy’s two main political parties may explain why levels of corruption in Italy have never really fallen.

Also within the ranks of these two ‘bitter opponents’ can be found ex-member of Italy’s oddball socialist party, the leader of which, Bettino Craxi, had to flee Italy to escape jail. Craxi reputedly stole millions from Italy. His people who, like their late leader, probably think corruption is cool.

When you see the composition of the two parties, you can begin to understand just why Italy has been going nowhere for so long.

Now, it is looking likely that after much (contrived?) fuss, control of Italy will be handed from Christian Democrat Enrico Letta to Christian Democrat Matteo Renzi. This does not bode too well for Italy’s future. One could be wrong though. Maybe there are bad Christian Democrats and good Christian Democrats? Then again, maybe not.

It’s no wonder Italy’s voters find it hard to vote – the choice is between the devil and the deep blue sea. In other words, no choice whatsoever.

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Chad

+Alex Roe is from the UK, but has lived and worked in Milan, Italy, for many years. Alex has been interviewed by the BBC on Italy issues.He tweets news and information about Italy to over 37,000 Twitter followers via @newsfromitaly on Twitter.

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