I was glad to see that there was interest here over the weekend on the elections in Greece and France. As has been discussed here and elsewhere, the results point to a general European distaste for austerity, even in countries that have suffered less during the economic crisis.
Italy has been a big question mark for some time now, as we sit in Purgatory with a technical government, led by Mario Monti. Most here (I'm in Rome) like him as a person and are happy to see the ethical adjustment. The austerity measures, however, are beginning to cause significant social problems, beginning with a startling number of suicides by people who are losing their small businesses or are unable to pay debts and risk losing their homes.
That's why today's local elections in places like Genoa, Parma, Palermo and Verona are important as indicators of what voters are thinking in view of elections which are to take place in 2013.
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