{"id":15837,"date":"2018-03-06T18:13:21","date_gmt":"2018-03-06T17:13:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/italian\/?p=15837"},"modified":"2018-03-06T19:32:24","modified_gmt":"2018-03-06T18:32:24","slug":"italian-curiosities-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/italian\/italian-curiosities-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian Curiosities – Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

After days of bitterly cold wind, snow and ice, we we’re desperate to get out of the house and see something different. We did!<\/span><\/p>\n

Per domenica hanno messo bel tempo<\/strong> … they’ve predicted nice weather for Sunday. By nice, I mean no snow or rain, and temperatures above 0\u00b0C … well that’s something!
\nHaving studied the meteo<\/strong>, we decide to head south, not far … mica andiamo in Sicilia!<\/strong>
\nWe’ve never been to Fosdinovo, it’s only about 40 minutes drive from us and has, allegedly, an interesting haunted castle. Quindi … andiamoci …<\/strong> so … let’s go there!<\/p>\n

But the first curiosity lies just a few kilometres down the way from our house: Ladies and gentlemen, I present, for your edification, or maybe mystification … Le Bacheche Elettorali Vuote!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Bacheche<\/strong> elettorali<\/strong> (electoral billboards) 04\/03\/18. Photo by Geoff<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Disclaimer: I care as much about politicians as do my cats, but it is my painful duty to try and give you a glimpse into the insane asylum that is Italian Politics.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Today is, theoretically, an important day for Italy. It’s Sunday the 4th of March 2018, national election day. Il comune<\/strong>, the local council, has erected impressive looking lines of bacheche<\/strong> elettorali<\/strong> (electoral billboards) close to the seggi elettorali<\/strong> (polling stations). This gives all of Italy’s countless political parties a fair chance to display their publicity. Here, they can stick their pretty electoral posters full of wonderful words and slogans. They can explain how they’re going to transform Italy into a fair and functioning society … there’ll be jobs for all, taxes will be lower, your eczema will get better … and, of course, all of those nasty emigrants will be sent packing back to where they belong.<\/p>\n

Dear readers, the more than 50 empty bacheche<\/strong> in this photo will tell you all you need to know about how much politicians actually give a damn about il popolo<\/strong>, the people that they’re meant to serve. The message seems clear: Noi non ce ne freghiamo neanche di venire da voi e mettere su la nostra pubblicit\u00e0<\/strong>, we can’t even be bothered to come and put up our publicity for you.<\/p>\n

But 50 billboards, you say … how many damned political parties are there in Italy?
\nWell, easily enough to fill all those empty bacheche<\/strong> if they used one each.<\/p>\n

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Geoff and Mr. Black demonstrate their immense interest in politics …. Photo by Serena<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

Okay, I’m sure you’re dying to know aren’t you? The following is a true list, I did not invent these political parties, even those with outrageous names … well maybe one \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Coalizione di Centrodestra<\/strong> – Centre Right Coalition:<\/span><\/p>\n

Forza Italia <\/strong><\/span>– Go Italy, led by Silvio Berlusconi.
\nImportant note for confused readers: Yes, ‘the’ Silvio Berlusconi. Italy’s 81 year old millionaire business tycoon, previously banned from leading a political party following his conviction for fraud, famous for his Bunga Bunga parties and consorting with underage Moroccan prostitutes, now rebranded after a stint of community service for his misdeeds and rejuvenated by a yet another series of facelifts and hair implants (eddai, sembra davvero un bel giovanotto!<\/strong>). We know we can trust him because his slogan promises: Onest\u00e0<\/strong> – Honesty, Esperienza<\/strong> – Experience, and Saggezza<\/strong> – Wisdom.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Pray forgive me dear readers whilst I pause to wipe the tears of mirth from my eyes … and continue the list …<\/p>\n

Lega <\/span><\/strong>– The League (formerly the separatist Lega Nord<\/strong>), led by Matteo Salvini.<\/p>\n

Fratelli d\u2019Italia <\/strong><\/span>– The Brothers of Italy, led by Giorgia Meloni.<\/p>\n

Noi con l\u2019Italia <\/span><\/strong>– Us with Italy, led by Raffaele Fitto,\u00a0a reincarnation of Democrazia Cristiana<\/strong>, the Christian Democratic party that governed Italy for nearly 50 years.<\/p>\n

Coalizione di Centrosinistra<\/strong> – Centre Left Coalition:<\/span><\/p>\n

Partito Democratico\u00a0 <\/span><\/strong>– The Democratic Party, led by Matteo Renzi. They’ve been in power for the last five years.<\/p>\n

Civica Popolare <\/span><\/strong>– Popular Civic, led by Beatrice Lorenzin<\/p>\n

Lista + Europa <\/span><\/strong>– The Pro Europe List, led by Emma Bonino<\/p>\n

Italia Europa Insieme<\/strong>\u00a0 <\/span>– Italy Europe Together, led by the current Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni<\/p>\n

Svp \u2013 Patt (Partito Autonomista Trentino Tirolese).<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 The Autonomous Trentino Tirolese Party, a separatist group, led by boh!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Principali Gruppi Politici Indipendenti\u00a0<\/strong> – Main Independent Political Groups:<\/span><\/p>\n

Movimento 5 Stelle<\/span> <\/strong>– The Five Stars Movement, led by Luigi Di Maio, founded by comedian Beppe Grillo<\/p>\n

CasaPound <\/strong><\/span>– CasaPound (sounds like a cheap British supermarket but in fact a far right wing neo-fascist group) led by Simone di Stefano.<\/p>\n

Liberi e Uguali <\/strong><\/span>– Free and Equal, led by Pietro Grasso<\/p>\n

Potere al Popolo <\/strong><\/span>– Power to the people (extreme left wing group), led by Viola Carofalo<\/p>\n

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Our little car parked near the empty political billboards on election day, just to give you a sense of scale. Photo by Geoff<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Altri Gruppi Politici Minori<\/strong> – Other Minor Political Groups (I may have invented one of these, see if you can spot it):<\/span><\/p>\n

Il popolo della famiglia<\/strong><\/span> – The Family People (nothing to do with The Village People!)<\/p>\n

Italia agli italiani<\/span><\/strong> – Italy For The Italians (… they sound um … welcoming!)<\/p>\n

Partito Comunista<\/span><\/strong> – well I don’t think I need to translate that one<\/p>\n

Partito Valore Umano<\/strong> <\/span>– The Human Values Party (duh!)<\/p>\n

10 volte meglio<\/span><\/strong> – 10 Times better (sounds like a cheap Italian supermarket)<\/p>\n

Per una sinistra rivoluzionaria<\/span><\/strong> – For a Revolutionary Left<\/p>\n

Polo nord<\/span><\/strong> ai pinguini <\/strong><\/span>– North Pole For The Penguins<\/p>\n

Partito Repubblicano Italiano<\/span><\/strong> – The Italian Republican Party<\/p>\n

Grande Nord<\/span><\/strong> – Big North<\/p>\n

Autodeterminazione<\/span><\/strong> – Self Determination<\/p>\n

P<\/span>opolo per la Costituzione<\/span><\/strong> – People For The Constitution<\/p>\n

Patto per l’autonomia<\/span><\/strong> – Pact For Autonomy<\/p>\n

Blocco nazionale per le libert\u00e0<\/span><\/strong> – National Freedom Block<\/p>\n

Siamo<\/span><\/strong> – We Are<\/p>\n

Rinascimento<\/span><\/strong> – Renaissance<\/p>\n

Italia nel cuore<\/span><\/strong> – Italy In The Heart<\/p>\n

Che impressione, vi fa cari lettori?<\/strong> What’s you’re impression dear readers? Please share.<\/p>\n

Now … who spotted my fake political party?<\/span><\/p>\n

Next time, a haunted castle and a surreal pizzeria!!!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

After days of bitterly cold wind, snow and ice, we we’re desperate to get out of the house and see something different. We did! Per domenica hanno messo bel tempo … they’ve predicted nice weather for Sunday. By nice, I mean no snow or rain, and temperatures above 0\u00b0C … well that’s something! Having studied…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":15860,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[474365,16908],"class_list":["post-15837","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","tag-elections-in-italy","tag-italian-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t