With all the scandals surrounding Silvio Berlusconi, it is difficult for the outside world to understand why Il Cavaliere remains so popular in Italy.
I believe there is a political answer and a cultural modus operandi that explain Berlusconi's popularity among Italians.
The political answer is simple.
Silvio Berlusconi seems to be the only politician with an agenda for the country.
By contrast, the opposition doesn't have a clear program and its strategy is mainly based on attacks against Berlusconi's establishment.
People on the left spend most of their time talking about Berlusconi's media control and personal scandals that hardly ever provide Italians with a concrete plan of action to deal with the real problems of the country.
In this context, Italians face two options when they cast their votes: Either they vote for the shady guy who nonetheless keeps things moving or they embrace all the uncertainty that defines his political adversaries.
Latest elections have shown that people have a strong preference for the former option.
A wise choice considering the recent disastrous administration of Romano Prodi, the previous Prime Minister.
The cultural part is more complex.
There is one element in Italy that defines the way people relate to the system: Patience.
A beautiful virtue that unfortunately in this country has turned into a pernicious acceptance.
Un po' di pazienza ("a little bit of patience") is a common expression people use to deal with the frustrations of their daily lives.
Whether people are complaining about the cost of living, the lack of job opportunities or the bureaucracy in public institutions, "a little bit of patience" has become the shelter of Italy's anxieties.
Italians, especially younger generations, are clearly frustrated with the way things are now in the country.
People complain everyday about everything and yet that doesn't translate into anything concrete.
Why? Politically speaking, the lack of alternatives provided by Italy's opposition is responsible for wasting this human capital that could be easily transformed into a new political force.
Culturally speaking, the sinister hand of a matriarchal society that pushes its sons to deal with the system as it is while encouraging the idea that this country is still the best place to live, is killing the hopes for change of a whole generation.
It is this matriarchal society afraid of confronting the system (this is where the Vatican comes handy to Italian politics) the one that promotes conformity and an unconditional reverence for any authority figure or service provider whether is the State, your employer, the owner of the apartment you rent or your bank.
A noxious attitude that justifies inefficiency and abuses of power.
The attacks the international press delivers on the Italian establishment are fair.
After all, it is hard to believe that any other healthy democracy would be so willing to vote for someone like Berlusconi.
The problem is that these attacks tend to be simplistic.
There is a political and cultural complexity that explains Berlusconi's popularity in Italy.
The international press should make an effort to go beyond scandalous pictures to better judge the current state of the country.
In the end, the bottom line is this: If Berlusconi is as good as it gets, Italy is certainly in a terrible position.
Nevertheless, that's understandable for a country that lacks political options and uses conformity to justify the system's inefficient ways.
That's also why in a land dominated by an exhausting feeling of resignation, Berlusconi is the king.
I believe there is a political answer and a cultural modus operandi that explain Berlusconi's popularity among Italians.
The political answer is simple.
Silvio Berlusconi seems to be the only politician with an agenda for the country.
By contrast, the opposition doesn't have a clear program and its strategy is mainly based on attacks against Berlusconi's establishment.
People on the left spend most of their time talking about Berlusconi's media control and personal scandals that hardly ever provide Italians with a concrete plan of action to deal with the real problems of the country.
In this context, Italians face two options when they cast their votes: Either they vote for the shady guy who nonetheless keeps things moving or they embrace all the uncertainty that defines his political adversaries.
Latest elections have shown that people have a strong preference for the former option.
A wise choice considering the recent disastrous administration of Romano Prodi, the previous Prime Minister.
The cultural part is more complex.
There is one element in Italy that defines the way people relate to the system: Patience.
A beautiful virtue that unfortunately in this country has turned into a pernicious acceptance.
Un po' di pazienza ("a little bit of patience") is a common expression people use to deal with the frustrations of their daily lives.
Whether people are complaining about the cost of living, the lack of job opportunities or the bureaucracy in public institutions, "a little bit of patience" has become the shelter of Italy's anxieties.
Italians, especially younger generations, are clearly frustrated with the way things are now in the country.
People complain everyday about everything and yet that doesn't translate into anything concrete.
Why? Politically speaking, the lack of alternatives provided by Italy's opposition is responsible for wasting this human capital that could be easily transformed into a new political force.
Culturally speaking, the sinister hand of a matriarchal society that pushes its sons to deal with the system as it is while encouraging the idea that this country is still the best place to live, is killing the hopes for change of a whole generation.
It is this matriarchal society afraid of confronting the system (this is where the Vatican comes handy to Italian politics) the one that promotes conformity and an unconditional reverence for any authority figure or service provider whether is the State, your employer, the owner of the apartment you rent or your bank.
A noxious attitude that justifies inefficiency and abuses of power.
The attacks the international press delivers on the Italian establishment are fair.
After all, it is hard to believe that any other healthy democracy would be so willing to vote for someone like Berlusconi.
The problem is that these attacks tend to be simplistic.
There is a political and cultural complexity that explains Berlusconi's popularity in Italy.
The international press should make an effort to go beyond scandalous pictures to better judge the current state of the country.
In the end, the bottom line is this: If Berlusconi is as good as it gets, Italy is certainly in a terrible position.
Nevertheless, that's understandable for a country that lacks political options and uses conformity to justify the system's inefficient ways.
That's also why in a land dominated by an exhausting feeling of resignation, Berlusconi is the king.
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