Il Bel Paese visto da fuori

“Despite the myriad issues, Meloni and her Brothers of Italy, which is forecast to obtain about 27% of the vote in the European elections, still maintain a strong appeal, mostly owing to her tough rhetoric on criminality and illegal immigration but also because of weak opposition.” Fonte: The Guardian Autore: Angela Giuffrida Link: ‘She just […]

“Can the new boss patch things up? Fashion retail has become fiercely competitive. Newcomers such as Shein and Temu, two online clothes merchants with ties to China, are giving even profitable rivals like Zara and h&m a run for their money. Mr Sforza will present his turnaround plan at the company’s annual general meeting on […]

“Ms Meloni certainly has many objectionable policies and qualities. Nonetheless, to rule out working with her as a matter of principle would be myopic. Her track record is not that of a political arsonist. She has made common cause with Mrs von der Leyen on matters such as illegal immigration; the two women have paid […]

“Italy’s current government is led by the Brothers of Italy party, which has roots in post-war fascism. Its leader, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has said her movement has completely changed and it is clear her politics are not those of the people raising their arms in Milan. But some fear she and her party have […]

“Far-right parties have struggled to work effectively together in the EU this term, hampered by divisions on key issues like Ukraine and intercrossing national-interest vetoes. However — Meloni is firm that there is an opening for cooperation across the right.” Fonte: Politico Autore: Hannah Roberts Link: Meloni smells an opportunity to reshape Europe with the […]

“Productivity has stagnated since the 1990s chiefly because Italian firms are on average too small and too slow to grow. The few firms that employ more than 50 workers are comparatively productive, the myriad smaller ones far less so. One explanation is that domestic competitive pressures are relatively low, especially in services. Stronger competition would […]

“The encampments and most of the protests have been largely peaceful, yet they have at times been brutally repressed. As a university president in Italy, I have watched with dismay the scenes of violence that have unfolded at universities from Amsterdam to Los Angeles and Sydney. It was good to see some of my counterparts, […]

“An Italian school’s decision to exempt Muslim children from studying Dante because the mediaeval poet placed Mohammed in hell in The Divine Comedy has sparked a backlash and a debate over cancel culture.” Fonte: The Telegraph Autore: Nick Squires Link: Backlash as Muslim children in Italy exempted from studying Dante

“Politicians turned a blind eye for decades as, in an area of exceptional natural beauty and desirable coastal real estate, building ran amok and the population swelled. Half a million people now live in towns across the danger zone.” Fonte: Politico Autore: Hannah Roberts Link: How a supervolcano on the Italian coast became a problem […]

“The personification of Mr Salvini’s tilt to the right is Roberto Vannacci, a serving army general who last year self-published a book so overtly racist and homophobic that Ms Meloni’s defence minister, Guido Crosetto, a member of the Brothers, dismissed its contents as “ravings” (Ms Meloni herself made no comment). General Vannacci is standing for […]