Not only did Italians vote in an all-important national election yesterday and today, but
American and Italian students in Florence expressed their preferences as well. This was the result of a political conference which took place at the Florence campus of Pepperdine University involving their students as well as students from the University of Florence.
As can be seen in the photo above, the ballots in the mock election were facsimiles of the actual
Italian ballot--no names, just party symbols. At stake are the seats--with a few exceptions--of the entire Italian Parliament, from the House of Deputies to the Senate, up to and including the Prime Minister.
Pepperdine in Florence director Elizabeth Whatley is holding the the ballot box
containing the newly-cast votes.
As we are going to press, Italian polls officially closed an hour ago, and the entire country is waiting for the results with bated breath. In the meantime, your faithful Beautiful Florence blogger can report
the student results: 41% support the coalizione di sinistra (the center-left alliance, including
Bersani's Democratic Party and Vendola's Left, Ecology and Liberty movements);
15.3% are for the center coalition, with lists headed by outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti,
Casini and Fini; 15.3% for the Movimento Cinque Stelle (the anti-politician, populist movement created by the angry comic Beppe Grillo); 15.3% in favor of the coalizione di destra,
the right-wing coalition run by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
(who up to now gives the impression that he was prepared to even rise from the dead in order to participate. Forgive my unprofessional comment as a journalist). The Ingroia list (Civil Revolution) headed by this former Mafia prosecutor received not a single vote, while five ballots were declared null and void (schede bianche).
How did the participating students arrive at their decision? Prior to the election,
Professor Alessandro Chiaramonte of Florence University's political science department
gave an explanation of the Italian political system, including historical background (above). His speech was followed by presentations of each political coalition or party in English by selected students.
Here a student is talking about the Movimento Cinque Stelle, whose five star logo is next to a picture of its leader, Beppe Grillo. The audience learned that Cinque Stelle political agenda stresses ecology and energy, is strongly anti-euro, while calling for a complete and radical renewal of the political elite, in addition to promoting online bureaucracy and free access to the Internet.
Grillo himself has taken the unprecedented step of declaring that he is not running for a seat
in the Italian Parliament.
Those in attendance learned that the Italian Parliament is composed of
the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
Although Italy has 60,000,000 inhabitants as compared to the U.S. population of 300,000,000,
the Chamber of Deputies comprises 618 members versus 435 congressmen in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Italian Senate is made of of 315 senators--excluding a handful of senators-for-life appointed for merit--versus 100 elected U.S. Senators.
Another student is talking about the left spectrum of the Italian party system, characterized by a platform that emphasizes jobs, education and sustainable development, civil and social rights (including civil unions for gays), and a United States of Europe. Apparently what he said was convincing, as the Center-Left Alliance won the most votes in the mock election.
The gentle reader may ask why such an unusual subject is featured in Beautiful Florence?
Your faithful blogger, along with professional photographer Marco Giacomelli (on loan from our publishing company's English language magazine Vista, Florence & Tuscany), find quite beautiful as well as extraordinary the intercultural dialogue--resulting in informed political expression--organized as a joint effort by Pepperdine and Florence University.
In this way, the American students also feel part of the country they are currently living in,
not just temporary guests.
Also, the roots of Beautiful Florence find support in the vibrant, living continuity intrinsic to the discoveries and traditions of Florence's remarkably beautiful past.
Where does Beautiful Florence go from here?
This past Friday, center candidate Prime Minister Mario Monti concluded his campaign in Florence, home of the Renaissance, to underscore that he would like to work towards a rebirth of Italy, a new Italian Renaissance. A brave gesture in the stronghold of a strongly left constituency.
In any case, Beautiful Florence will report on the outcome of this election and compare it to the student vote. Along the way, the Italian national vote will recount, as Professor Chiarmonte stated,
whether the agony of the Italy's Second Republic will continue or
or if the outcome signals the birth of the Third Republic.
reporting live from Beautiful Florence
--Rosanna
American and Italian students in Florence expressed their preferences as well. This was the result of a political conference which took place at the Florence campus of Pepperdine University involving their students as well as students from the University of Florence.
As can be seen in the photo above, the ballots in the mock election were facsimiles of the actual
Italian ballot--no names, just party symbols. At stake are the seats--with a few exceptions--of the entire Italian Parliament, from the House of Deputies to the Senate, up to and including the Prime Minister.
containing the newly-cast votes.
As we are going to press, Italian polls officially closed an hour ago, and the entire country is waiting for the results with bated breath. In the meantime, your faithful Beautiful Florence blogger can report
the student results: 41% support the coalizione di sinistra (the center-left alliance, including
Bersani's Democratic Party and Vendola's Left, Ecology and Liberty movements);
15.3% are for the center coalition, with lists headed by outgoing Prime Minister Mario Monti,
Casini and Fini; 15.3% for the Movimento Cinque Stelle (the anti-politician, populist movement created by the angry comic Beppe Grillo); 15.3% in favor of the coalizione di destra,
the right-wing coalition run by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
(who up to now gives the impression that he was prepared to even rise from the dead in order to participate. Forgive my unprofessional comment as a journalist). The Ingroia list (Civil Revolution) headed by this former Mafia prosecutor received not a single vote, while five ballots were declared null and void (schede bianche).
Professor Alessandro Chiaramonte of Florence University's political science department
gave an explanation of the Italian political system, including historical background (above). His speech was followed by presentations of each political coalition or party in English by selected students.
Grillo himself has taken the unprecedented step of declaring that he is not running for a seat
in the Italian Parliament.
Those in attendance learned that the Italian Parliament is composed of
the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
Although Italy has 60,000,000 inhabitants as compared to the U.S. population of 300,000,000,
the Chamber of Deputies comprises 618 members versus 435 congressmen in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Italian Senate is made of of 315 senators--excluding a handful of senators-for-life appointed for merit--versus 100 elected U.S. Senators.
The gentle reader may ask why such an unusual subject is featured in Beautiful Florence?
Your faithful blogger, along with professional photographer Marco Giacomelli (on loan from our publishing company's English language magazine Vista, Florence & Tuscany), find quite beautiful as well as extraordinary the intercultural dialogue--resulting in informed political expression--organized as a joint effort by Pepperdine and Florence University.
In this way, the American students also feel part of the country they are currently living in,
not just temporary guests.
Also, the roots of Beautiful Florence find support in the vibrant, living continuity intrinsic to the discoveries and traditions of Florence's remarkably beautiful past.
Where does Beautiful Florence go from here?
This past Friday, center candidate Prime Minister Mario Monti concluded his campaign in Florence, home of the Renaissance, to underscore that he would like to work towards a rebirth of Italy, a new Italian Renaissance. A brave gesture in the stronghold of a strongly left constituency.
In any case, Beautiful Florence will report on the outcome of this election and compare it to the student vote. Along the way, the Italian national vote will recount, as Professor Chiarmonte stated,
whether the agony of the Italy's Second Republic will continue or
or if the outcome signals the birth of the Third Republic.
reporting live from Beautiful Florence
--Rosanna
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