Il Referendum Posted by Serena on Jun 23, 2011 in Uncategorized
On the 12th and 13th of June the Italian people were called to vote in a popular referendum which required them to make decisions about three important issues:
1. Energia Nucleare (Nuclear Energy). In a previous referendum held in 1987 following the Chernobyl disaster, Italians voted to shut down our three existing nuclear plants, and to put a stop to any future production of nuclear energy in Italy. On several occasions the government has tried to reintroduce the possibility of nuclear energy production with no avail, until last year, when Berlusconi’s government managed to sneak in a law paving the way to resuscitate the nuclear industry. This law was hidden within the proposed reforms for schools and universities! Luckily Silvio’s trick didn’t go unnoticed by the IdV (Italia dei Valori, Italy of the Values, a left-wing political party), i Verdi (The Green Party) and other organizations such as Greenpeace Italia, who immediately started the process which led to last week’s referendum.
2. Privatizzazione dell’acqua (Water privatization). Last year the government approved a decree according to which over the next few years all water boards would become società per azioni, that is private companies with shares quoted on the stock market. This would mean that the shareholders could be foreign companies, and that consequently prices would be likely to soar to ensure ‘healthy’ profits. Again, many consumers’ protection organizations immediately started the process of collecting signatures all over the country in order to bring about a referendum with the aim of repealing the privatization of water.
3. Legittimo impedimento (Literally: Legitimate Impediment). This is what we call ‘una legge ad personam’ (a law created to protect the interests of one person). Bear in mind that il Presidente del Consiglio (the Prime Minister) a.k.a. il Cavaliere Silvio Berlusconi is being investigated for a series of crimes, amongst which corruption, bribery, and having sex with an under age prostitute. Now imagine how useful it would be for him to have a law which gave him and any of his Ministers immunity on the ground that they are impeded from attending court and standing trial due to their governmental responsibilities. This is, in fact, exactly what the law of legittimo impedimento means. Once again the IdV party set out to organize the referendum with the aim of abolishing this law.
I risultati (the results):
For the first time in sixteen years the referendum reached ‘il quorum‘, meaning that the minimum number of voters required for the referendum results to be declared valid (fixed by the Italian Constitution at 50 percent of the voters plus one) was surpassed. A massive 57 percent of the total voting population turned out to vote, one of the highest percentages ever reached in the history of referendums here in Italy. Of this 57 percent, nearly 95 percent voted SÌ all’abrogazione dell’energia nucleare, della privatizzazione dell’acqua, e del legittimo impedimento (YES to the repeal of nuclear energy, the privatization of water, and the law of legitimate impediment). This democratic result means that the maggioranza assoluta (absolute majority) of the Italian population feels very strongly about these issues and is clearly against them.
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Comments:
Joanne:
Just to clarify, does this yes vote mean that the Italian people basically voted against nuclear energy, water privatisation and Legittimo impedimento?
Serena:
@Joanne Salve Joanne, Yes, confusing isn’t it! It would seem much clearer if we had to vote ‘no’ to voice disapproval of a law or policy, but instead we have to vote ‘si’, as in ‘yes, I’m against this policy’.
So by voting ‘si’ we have successfully voted against nuclear energy, water privatization and Legittimo impedimento.
A presto, Serena
Edoardo:
Nice blog about what the referendum actually was. Nevertheless I voted yes as regards as energia nucleare.
Justin:
There were four points in the referendum with two aspects to the water matter, weren’t there?
The results, however, were fabulous, and I am proud of the Italians for being awake enough to challenge the rude and uncouth Berlusconi and his criminal tendencies. He gives Italy a bad name. I’m so pleased they did not take that idiot’s advice and head for the beach that sunny Sunday. Bravo!
Delfina Acuto Herbert:
I don’t believe much of anything coming from the far left. I am not a socialist.
Serena:
@Delfina Acuto Herbert Delphina, I really don’t understand your comment. What has the far left got to do with anything? Are you saying that only communist extremist are against building nuclear power plants in our earthquake ridden country, and that water, a natural resource which in the vast majority of Italians opinions is a basic human right, should be privatized. Perhaps you really do think that Berlusconi is a nice honest chap who is being persecuted (as he believes) by the Italian magistrates, who according to him are all communists?
Or maybe your comment was simply a quote from Silvio himself: “Non credo a niente di quello che dicono quelli dell’estrema sinistra. Io non sono socialista”.
Saluti da Serena
chainey:
The issue is this specific post or the rightness or otherwise of particular policies or politicians. It’s that people come here to learn Italian and frequently get political opinions instead.
And naive ones too. Water privatization is not about whether water is a “human right” or not, but rather whether the supply should be done by private or public entities. You pay through taxes or directly to the vendor. Rights don’t come into it. Presumably you feel food is a fundamental right too – does that mean the state has to own every farm? Would that keep prices down?
Anyway, that’s it for me. Sadly I have to remove this blog from my reader. Much as I’m annoyed by the lack, I don’t consider it a fundamental human right to be supplied with free non-political Italian commentary, so I’ll just do without.
Serena:
@chainey Salve Chainey,
Why would you want to learn Italian if you have no interest in Italian culture, or are you only interested in the ‘nice, decorative’ aspects of my country? Unfortunately, as I have pointed out in the past, politics is an integral part of Italian culture, something which you would understand if you tried to live and work here.
If I failed to report on current political issues I wouldn’t be giving a true picture of what it’s like to live here in Italy, and it is certainly not my objective to propagate the picturesque Disneyland version of my country much beloved by many romantic tourists.
If you had any real understanding of Italian culture you would appreciate what a huge milestone for democracy in Italy the referendum was. You would feel empathy for the millions of people who had given in to cynicism and despair after having been subjected for decades to the depressing level of corruption and self interest inherent within Italian politics.
I’d also like to highlight a part of you comment that is potentially very insulting to Italian people:
Are you aware Chainey, that twenty seven million Italians voted in this referendum? Let’s look at the results:
Referendum 1 – Servizi pubblici locali
SI
95,35%
NO
4,65%
Referendum 2 – Tariffa servizio idrico
SI
95,80%
NO
4,20%
Referendum 3 – Energia elettrica nucleare
SI
94,05%
NO
5,95%
Referendum 4 – Legittimo impedimento
SI
94,62%
NO
5,38%
So, according to you, roughly 95% of twenty seven million Italians have naive political opinions, correct?
Regarding the human right to water here’s an opportunity to practice your Italian:
La Risoluzione ONU del 29 luglio 2010 dichiara per la prima volta nella storia il diritto all’acqua un diritto umano universale e fondamentale[2].
La Risoluzione sottolinea ripetutamente che l’acqua potabile e per uso igienico, oltre ad essere un diritto di ogni uomo, più degli altri diritti umani, concerne la dignità della persona, è essenziale al pieno godimento della vita, è fondamentale per tutti gli altri diritti umani [3].
La Risoluzione non è vincolante, ovvero afferma un principio che ancora raccomanda (non obbliga) gli Stati ad attuare iniziative per garantire a tutti un’acqua potabile di qualità, accessibile, a prezzi economici.
Italians know what happens to their resources once certain entities get their hands on them. You might like to study the early history of Cosa Nostra in Sicilia and find out how they ‘managed’ the water.
Buona fortuna con i tuoi studi e spero che trovi il blog giusto per te. Serena
Allan Mahnke:
Miile grazie! Eravamo in Italia in Maggio e abbiamo guardato tante dimostrazioni, però abbiamo capito le cose in parte!! Questo blog ci aiuta molto!
Kathryn & Allan
AntonyM:
Serena… Like Joanne, I was confused by this sentence in your blog: (YES to the repeal of nuclear energy, the privatization of water, and the law of legitimate impediment).
That does sound as if YES means repeal nuclear energy, but YES to privatization and YES to leg. impediment.
I understand the referendum was set up this way for the purpose of confusing the voters, and I’m delighted they saw through it so clearly. But indeed, your report could have been more clear for those persons such as myself who didn’t already know the result.
Many thanks for your interesting work here.
Lesley Brennan:
Ciao Serena
Grazie per questa informazione. Molto interessante e utile. So che posso leggere i giornali online ma era piu’ facile da ricevere il suo riassunto via il suo blog. Cosi’ s’impara.
Saluti, Lesley
Bill Rohwer:
I risultati sono meravigliosi! Il Berlusconi pessimo non ha vinto. Complimenti ai Italiani!
Un saluto con tante grazie, Serena,
Bill Rohwer
Andreas:
Salve Serena!
Me felicito con gli italiani per la vittoria. E a quelli che dicono che qui vogliono solo l’italiano senza nessuna polotica, posso dire che non e’ possibile conoscere una lingua senza interessarsi alla vita del paese la cui lingua si studia.
Andreas
Aidan:
Serena,
Bravo a voi e al popolo italiano.
Saluti,
Aidan
Jerry:
Ciao Serena,
As an Italian citizen living in the US I am very pleased to see this information posted on the web. I must admit that my Italian isn’t exactly fluent and I was really wondering what that package of voting materials that came to me in the mail really meant! Well, now I know. I promise to keep working on my Italian and look forward to reading more of your blog in il futuro. Grazie mille! gaf
Eileen:
Bravo Serena! I LIKE that you talk about the politics of Italy (otherwise I would get a very slanted, American view), and of course I see no problem with your giving a hint as to your opinion – people HAVE opinions in real life, it’s absurd to pretend any opinion that isn’t the same as yours is so insulting that you have to plug your ears and scream. *That* is naive and immature.
Grazie,
Eileen
Alex:
Well done Serena. It is perfectly proper for your blog to talk about Italy and matters of great importance to the country. Thank you for the clarity.