taly’s march election saw two populist watching other nations in the European Parliament. parties swept into power and the political Territory versus globalization and identity versus center falling out of favor. Just prior to that vote, openness – these became the key words of his new Luciano Fontana, Editor in Chief of the Corriere politics, radically transforming his party. della Sera, one of Italy’s oldest newspapers, Peculiar to Italy, we have a crisis in politics and a Ioutlined the ongoing collapse of the nation’s ruling class that has been ineffective over 25 years. democratic ideals in his book Un paese senza leader The fragile governments that have succeeded each (A Country Without Leaders). other are the clearest proof. That lack of leadership Reforms in the wake of corruption scandals in the left us vulnerable to the social pressures of migra- 1990s created the so-called “Second Republic,” which tory waves, which exacerbated the problem. aimed for a European-style of representation and We are also an exception because we have two sig- majority rule. Under this system, Mr. Fontana notes, nificant populist and nationalist parties – the League governments should last the duration of a legislature and the Five Star Movement. Usually, there is only – five years. Instead, leadership has become a revolv- one – and perhaps not as significant, as in Germany. ing door spinning faster and faster, often arriving and departing in the space of months. “The mythology of the Second Republic has com- pletely failed in these 25 years,” says Mr. Fontana. “Fragile parties are in continuous transformation; THE COURAGE OF leaders have emerged only to founder quickly – as many as 10 have come and gone on the center left in this period. Election laws have not worked.” The March vote reflected the frustration, Mr. Fon- tana says. “We saw a very great desire to return to the Responsibility old system of proportional representation and the clear rise of new forces – ‘nationalists’ or ‘populists.’” The new government saw an early test of its poli- In your book, you talk about the “courage of Author and cies when its first budget, with expanded debt to pay responsibility.” What does that mean? Editor in Chief in part for entitlement programs, was rejected by the The “courage of responsibility” is a rejection of the of the venerable EU, setting off an international political stalemate. kind of politics that is perpetually in electoral cam- Corriere della In our interview with Mr. Fontana, who has been paign mode. Social media amplifies that: simple Sera luciano with the Corriere della Sera since 1997 and Editor in words, direct and often vulgar, instant promises as fontana tells Chief since 2015, he is clear-eyed but insists he has if the solutions were always so easy. Then the next not lost hope, despite the chaos. promise and the next battle and the next campaign Brunswick’s “I firmly believe in the robustness of the Italian without ever verifying the factual basis. Facts, com- alessandro economy and the quality of the entrepreneurial fabric patibility, the relationship between promises and re- iozzia and of the country,” he says. “Every day, we hear positive sults, all that disappears, along with the noble art of cesare stories of leadership in manufacturing, pharmaceu- finding the best compromise to achieve a result. calabrese how ticals and in the most innovative sectors – in spite of So the “courage of responsibility” means speak- Italy can escape a crisis of political leadership that has been dragging ing the truth, and not just capturing the consen- the chaos of on for years. The entire political class must accept sus; knowing how to say the right things, even hard its political responsibility, and establish a clear call for respect of things. Knowing what is possible, when an excep- “perfect storm.” institutional roles and the principles of democracy.” tional effort must really be demanded of the country. Having an enormous public debt, for instance – you Is Italy’s political chaos part of a global crisis? can rage against Europe’s demands for our budget, Some features are similar to what is happening in but that debt is not only a problem for Europe, it is a many countries of the world – with the US, with problem for ourselves, for our economy. Brexit, with movements in Central and Northern If the budget proposed to Europe had been made Europe, and with the rise of Marine Le Pen’s party. up more of tax reductions to spur innovation and The common denominators are globalization and growth – improving productivity and technological immigration. Matteo Salvini, the current Deputy modernization – probably our overspending would Prime Minister and Interior Minister, says the idea of be seen as an effort to improve the country. Instead, a nationalism and identity party came to him from more welfare, aimed more at the next electoral cam-

62 brunswick review · issue 17 · 2019 Responsibility THE COURAGE OF

PHOTOGRAPH: STEFANO CAVICCHI/CORRIERE DELLA SERA European elections next May? Do youhaving seeItaly adirect impact on the responsibility. thecourage of of thangoverningpaign thecountry, wastheopposite brunswick review Arguments are aired being infavor anopen, of and nationalist, sooner or later reabsorbed. be will which are populist parties, of two both The majority Do you seeaway outof Italy’s morass? political not inanyone’s interest for thesituation to escalate. aly andcompromise. dialogue desperately need It is quences. anexcess Isee zeal. of Europe Both andIt- face consetionalist parties, serious itscitizens- will chooses populist and na- a country thatif showing direction, in the contrary campaign ing an electoral banner waved thatcanbe campaign. inthe electoral to thinghasbeen asa usethetragedy important The soon,time but that’s completely been overlooked. monster.” No reconstruct any thebridge one will involved intheincident) upasthe washeld “perfect (theconcession road tostrade thestretch of holder of in Genoa August [where died]. 43people Società Au- – inthiscase, theEuropean technocrats. anarrative to identify the structing “perfect enemy” are atfindingasolution, aimed but only at con- in their campaigns. None thecurrent discussions of Movement] Europeuse the budget dispute with will and Luigi theFive-StarSalvini Maio Di [leader of thatpursue nationalism. theparties Both figure of Certainly. isbecoming Salvini European theleading To fair, be theEuropean Commission is conduct- We saw theMorandi thiswith collapse Bridge in

· issue 17

·

2019

and Interior Minister. PrimeDeputy Minister Salvini isthecurrent March of lastyear. Mr. in power to came inItaly afterward. The League della Sera offices bystopped theCorriere photographer, and by a accompanied that morning, earlier blood donated Milan. Mr. Salvini had newspaper’s offices in theLeague, at the party the populist political Salvini, leader of Matteo with a shirt-sleeved della Sera,shakes hands in Chief of Italy’s Corriere Editor Luciano Fontana, is an Executive inMilan.is anExecutive cesare calabrese Brunswick’s Milan office. is aPartner andHeadof alessandro iozzia Europeans forgetting where they come from? You alot of talk about memory. and Are Italians knowssomeone who how to mobilize others. expertise. Not theright him with one manalone, but are conducted now –andhave managers around defined andsimpleway that’sbecause – howpolitics clear, inavery hecanarticulate country tion of well- in2012.regional elections A leader must have ano- years ago; theFive Starparty’s first test wasinthe ly. wasaMunicipal Salvini Councillor inMilan four winning idea can emerge and a quick fined program - Yes. In thisclimate, awell-de- acapable leader with Someone new must emerge? Berlusconi Party. or theoldDemocratic and education –andthatleader either cannotbe expertise theidea of future of andistheincarnation ing. A leader isrequired knows who how to forge the thatisnotentirely backward andastory - look gram forneed simpleandclear language, aplausible pro- global, world, liberal attentive to expertise. There isa things arethings normal, newspapers do badly. acompass. lostneed feel thosewho because When Where there isconfusion, more issold, information Politicians’ have attacks thing? beenagood than wondering how to survive. in many years, we are able to to look thefuture rather have to begun hire new journalists. For time thefirst thisyear,tal subscriptions better thanexpected. We formation. We have more- gained than100,000digi convince to people pay somethingto have in- quality andthedebate about fakeuncertainty news helped paywall. wasawatershed This year: thepolitical both papers like New The York Times, we’ve establisheda open to theworld. Like major international news- bybranded ourprejudices, but to and informed be isnotto Sera at theCorriere excite della or to be the day.derstand and digest theissues of Ourjob net. isasafety journalism ItQuality us un- helps What istherole of journalism now? raw materials andthatthrives on itsopenness. likevantage for ours, acountry which does nothave andgoods.people are things These - ad anenormous dents to go anywhere, movement thefreedom of of the borders, currency, thesingle theoption for stu- people.500 million We appreciated theopening of wasthen what amarket of of part being advantage of to have supporter. anearly been We understood the ing theeuro asanationalmission. We were proud return. gradually Italy will sawOur memory join- u 63