460. 2019 Sardinian Regional Election Results

The regional vote in Sardinia is an eloquent reflection on the present Italian government. What the Five Star movement took away from the PD (left wing party) in the previous elections, to total 40%, leaving the PD to total a 15%; in these regional elections the balance has been completely overturned. The PD has now regained its lost votes, leaving the Five Star Movement to total a mere 10%. This means, should there be a general election in the not too distant future, the Five Star Movement will be up to their neck in hot waters. The message the neo-elections in Sardinia clearly says, coalitions never work for any significant amount of time. The elections were won, of course, by the right-wing candidate with 48%. The election rules have also changed, now it not necessary to have an overall majority but the candidate who gains the most votes becomes the President of the Region of Sardinia. Which is quite a sensible thing to do because with 48% and with the numerous political factions in opposition, there’s no chance any of them will agree on any coalition that will total anywhere near 51%. 

However, any outsider testing the political ground in Italy will become aware of a general malaise towards the present government because with its 35% odd of the Five Star Movement led by di Maio and the 20% odd of the Lega Nord, (right wing faction) led by Salvini, simply satisfies no one.

Before forming the government, the two factions signed a written agreement as to what each faction wanted to implement with the unconditional approval of the other. An example, among many, of the two most significant elements contained is: on behalf of Salvini’s party; close Italian ports to ships who have rescued potential immigrants from rubber dinghies organized by unscrupulous dealers who trade in human carnage; and from di Maio’s Movement; a kind of unemployment benefit for people out of work.

What exactly is di Maio’s proposition? Surely no one can be against unemployment benefit for those out of work! This may well work in other countries but not in Italy. Quite a few Italians are masters at finding ingenious ways of sponging off the government! There are even TV programs dedicated on how to cheat the rules so as to get the benefits! Not to mention, I doubt Italy has any way of covering the resources to meet such demands, thus indebting the country even more than the depths it is already in, causing the wrath of the EU to breathe upon Italy as fast as you can shut an eye… for Europe is not indeed at all merciful with Italy!

By g - personally shot by g, CC BY-SA 4.0,
View of Gennargentu, the highest massif of Sardinia 

I think it’s quite realistic to say that for political reasons, (the Left-wingers want Salvini to drown), and not for any humanitarian reasons, the left-wing orientated part of society, want the ports open, so that dealers can upload more desperate people who pay all they have to jump on a perilous rubber dinghy, half knowing, they will be saved anyway by Dutch and German ships who “happen” to be sailing just in that direction at that precise moment! Knowing they will all be “dumped” off safely anyway, on the shores of Italy! These ships flying German, Dutch, Norwegian and whatever flags who decide their vocation is to pick the immigrants strategically left in the middle of the Mediterranean sea by the dealers in human carnage should all dutifully take these people to the country their ship’s flag is flying because that is officially the country where these people have landed, and not as happens at present “dump” these unfortunate immigrants on someone else’s land, which in 99.9% of cases, Italy. Maritime Law is that whatever flag the ship is flying that is officially part of the soil of that country. If you set foot on that ship, you set foot in that country, and that country is therefore responsible for its passengers. Yet all ships have ignored this law and the European Union has never once enforced it, but insisted all people rescued by these ships are to land in Italy! And if Italy refuses, then the “LAW” will persecute its ministers and put them in jail, which is what Italian judges have attempted to do.  Are we becoming barbarians that we don’t respect international sea law anymore but put Italian ministers in jail instead?

The present coalition has lasted a year now and the major good for the country it has so far achieved is closed its ports and in doing so saved the many lives that in the past drowned in the Mediterranean. It seems a contradiction of terms, but by refusing to admit illegal immigrants to be unloaded on the first shore they come to, which is Italy since Malta, has long closed its ports, (ha, Malta can do it, but Italy can’t), people from Africa have decided the risk is too great and are thinking twice before giving all their savings to the dealers and jumping on those dinghies of death. So, in the last year there have been much fewer deaths, in fact, hardly any compared to the hundreds and thousands in past years when Italy erroneously kept its ports open.

This coalition has lasted a year now, but it is strained. Nevertheless, it has taught Italians something, the only way democracy can work is if it can bring stability to a country and that can only be achieved if factions of similar minds can obtain enough votes to gain an overall majority and not force on a country a majority which is unnatural.

Strait of Bonifacio. The southern coast of Corsica  
By Mentnafunangann - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

True, the past has shown that even in an overall majority, like in any family, divorce is a reality and an internal break-up is always lurking in the background; but the chance of factions of a similar outlook forming an overall majority government in bringing stability to a country is far more plausible than any number of coalitions that have nothing in common with each other.