In Italy, there is an old Sicilian novel (The Leopard) that marks an unwritten rule of national politics: “change everything, to not change a thing”.
The story of the re-election of President Sergio Mattarella to the highest office of the State seems to overturn that rule. With Mattarella at the Quirinale and Mario Draghi as Prime Minister, everything remains the same as it was before the election event.
But many things have happened in the Italian political world in this hectic week with eight voting rounds and an infinity of public and private summits.
The most devastating field after the battle is undoubtedly the center-right one. “Lega” leader Matteo Salvini claimed the presidency for his coalition (Lega, Forza Italia and Fratelli d’Italia) and opened the game with a candidacy with no future, that of Silvio Berlusconi, beaten by a storm of no.He then proposed himself as king-maker (director of the election) throwing a dozen of authoritative candidates to Parliament, all burned by the opposite side, but also by a growing squad of snipers from Forza Italia.
Among these sacrificial calves there were also two female figures at the top of the institutions such as the second office of the state, the president of the senate Casellati and the head of the secret services Belloni. The first has not even received the votes of the entire center-right, while the second has not even been nominated.
After the rejection of Belloni, Salvini gave up and accepted the re-nomination of Sergio Mattarella, a super partes man, but coming from the ranks of the Democratic Party.
Conclusion: the center-right no longer has leadership or even the internal unity necessary for a political coalition.In the 5 stelle party, this week there has been a clear contrast between the political leader Conte and the Foreign Minister Di Maio which will now need clarification or even a showdown.
A clarification that also concerns relations with the allies of the Democratic Party which have seen confirmed doubts about the loyalty of the allies headed by Beppe Grillo.
Mattarella and Draghi certainly received the maximum consensus not only from parliamentarians but also from Italian citizens as well as from the international community. Their confirmation gives stability and credibility to the Italian institutions.
But the wounds and tensions within the parties are many: will they affect the government? That Mario Draghi wanted to move to the Quirinale is no mystery. Will he take revenge on anyone?
And then, above all, in a year we vote. Has the election campaign already begun?
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