JCU Hosts International Press Correspondents on Italian Elections
(from left) Amy Rosenthal and Andrew Spannaus
The John Cabot University Guarini Institute for Public Affairs, together with the Temple University Rome Campus, hosted the panel “Le elezioni italiane viste dai corrispondenti della stampa internazionale” (Italian Elections Viewed by International Press Correspondents) on September 14, 2022. The panelists were Franco Pavoncello, President of John Cabot University, Trisha Thomas, journalist and television producer for the Associated Press, Janko Petrovec, journalist, Angela Giuffrida, journalist and correspondent for The Guardian, Ine Roox, journalist for the De Standaard, Andrew Spannaus, American journalist and political analyst, and Philip Willan, Italy correspondent for The Times. The event was moderated by Amy Rosenthal, member of the Guarini Institute’s Advisory Council.
President Pavoncello started the discussion by providing an overview of the Italian political system, the main parties contending for leadership, as well as post-election scenarios. The premature fall of Mario Draghi’s government (a statesman whose reputation and prestige would have been “tremendously necessary” in Italy’s current predicament), seems to have opened the door to the right-wing coalition. According to recent polls, the national-conservatives of Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy) could count on about 25% of the votes, a consensus never-before-seen in Italy for a far-right party. According to President Pavoncello, the rise of radical parties in Italy’s recent political history is the result of the electorate’s growing dissatisfaction with the lack of major institutional reforms. Moreover, the instability generated by the current electoral system might make the winning political coalition “unable to last” after the vote.
The panelists answered to Italian editorialist Antonio Polito’s criticism of the foreign press as solely focusing on the “threat of fascism,” should the right coalition prevail, rather than discussing more pressing issues. The panel seemed to agree that, while a return to fascism de facto is not an option, a potential victory of Fratelli d’Italia will have serious consequences in Italy, particularly at the expense of marginalized groups and the socially disadvantaged. However, nuances should be taken into consideration in identifying Fratelli d’Italia’s ambiguous political message as part of a radical right-wing populist agenda, rather than a neo-fascist one.
The panelists concluded by mentioning topics that aren’t being discussed enough during this electoral season. Such topics include: Fratelli d’Italia’s official position on Russia and the war in Europe, and its approach to family policies and financial incentives; the left parties’ plan regarding migration policies; how to avoid a further increase in Italy’s debt; climate change and the lack of young people’s engagement in this electoral season.
