In 2008, the year Democrats won back the White House, I got completely hooked about American politics. I began to follow the primary season, and then the election campaign of Barack Obama. I listened to the speeches, I followed the polls, I read every comment and watched every video on the net. Accidentally I got the chance to find this site, Daily Kos, which soon became my main reference point. From here, from the far away Europe, I could feel the enthusiasm. and palpitate with the forces of change.
Gradually overcome the language barrier, I took courage and even wrote a diary, after the convention in Denver:
Something to share (from the other side of the ocean)
Passion was so strong, and so huge the difference with the reality I was living everyday in my country, Italy, ruled by a bumptious satrap.
Three years after, Obama has showed to be a good president, and despite any difficulties is giving substance to the hopes that many, not only in the United States, had placed on him. Some processes are slow, but inexorable, and nobody can stop what is in motion. Obama had to reverse course, and it was a titanic enterprise (he always said it), but the results are starting to see.
But here in the Bel Paese, everything is like 3 years ago. Even worse. There is still the usual pathetic buffoon to command, and around him a sad court. And what is worse, people seem almost resigned to endure so much incompetence and wickedness, as the country slips deeper and deeper.
But finally something, perhaps, is changing.
It could be just the first signal from the city where I live my working days, Milan. This has always been the Italian economic capital town. Craxism (which was the prologue of Berlusconism) born here, here developed the (unfortunately) short season of "Mani Pulite” (Clean Hands), here for the last 17 years the right wing wins elections regularly. But this time something else could happen. To the incumbent mayor, the aristocratic Mrs. Moratti, left wing opposed a lawyer, Giuliano Pisapia, a polite but determined gentleman, known among the people but with an original sin on his conscience, a true indelible stain: it was (and for someone, still is) a communist. Speaking of clean air, rights of the weakest, legality and transparency, he gradually gained confidence from the people, especially in the suburbs that his opponent does not like to attend.
His was an impossible race, according to all political observers. At best, he is granted a remote chance to force the Berlusconi ‘s candidate to a second ballot. The latest poll showed a 48-40 for Mrs. Moratti. The first round of last May 15, has experienced a reversed result: 48% Pisapia, 42% Moratti. The electoral law provides for such election a second round of voting, if no candidate reaches the 50% +1 of the votes in the first round. Giuliano now is going to the ballot, on May 29, but at this point he will try to complete the miracle, and win.
The right wing was sure of a landslide. The incumbent mayor invested more than € 20 million in this campaign, the challenger less than 1. Berlusconi spent himself personally, turning the local election into a sort of national referendum pro - against him, and whatever will happen in the ballot, for him this is already a defeat.
Actually, as a Pisapia’s slogan says, the wind is really changing. Just here in Milan, where a defeat of the governmental coalition would have a huge symbolic power and incalculable practical consequences.
In fact, Berlusconi and his fellows are trying to take measure, increasing their efforts, using all means to discredit the progressive candidate. They talk about his past as a young protester (they call him "terrorist"), they emphasize his proposals for integration fomenting fears ("he want to build a mosque at every neighbourhood "), they exploit his anti - prohibitionism position ("he’s friend of junkies"). In short, the usual accusations (does it sound familiar?) with which the conservatives are trying to scare the electorate.
They are doing everything, displaying the enormous power of media (television and press) available to Berlusconi. Maybe they do, maybe not. Of course, these elections are also a test of maturity. Many people no longer believe in fairy tales, and definitely hope for a change. But have many people will decide that the hopes are more important than fear, when they will insert the ballot in the box?
During these days in Milan we are living in a new atmosphere, and I do not speak of quality of air (which is always bad, one of the worst in Europe), but the mood of enthusiasm and hope, expectation and even (why not?) fear. Fear of seeing illusions fall down. A mood that reminds me what preceded the election of Barack Obama in 2008.
After the victory in the first round, the popularity of Pisapia (considered by some too gentle to find a place among the sharks of politics) has skyrocketed. Two days ago, at the Smeraldo Theatre the number of his supporters was so overflowing that to allow everyone to see him, he had to replicate the meeting twice. The site of his supporters on Facebook Pisapia per Milano gains constantly new friends, and messages of encouragement are coming from all over Italy.
And while Berlusconi launches on all TV’s his proclamation (“Milan, do not leave the city in the hands of a communist”) Giuliano keeps on moving among the people of the suburbs, listening to their problems, and explaining his proposals.
A win for Pisapia, on May 29, it could be a sign that change in Italy has really started. A defeat would frustrate the hopes, cancelling the success of the first round. Here we progressives are used to defeats, but we are also tired of suffer them. Just tired.
Updated by libero7 at Sat May 21, 2011 at 07:57 AM PDT