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Alessandro Garofalo / Reuters, file
Democratic Party leader Pier Luigi Bersani, shown with his wife, Daniela, in December, just might be the choice to take over from Prime Minister Mario Monti.
ROME -- If opinion polls are right, he's the man headed to win Italy's elections this month.
No, not Silvio Berlusconi, the flamboyant media mogul chased out of office by Europe's debt crisis and attempting a comeback. Nor Mario Monti, the star economist-turned-premier credited by financial circles with saving Italy from ruin.
Grabbing fewer headlines but a greater share of support: Pier Luigi Bersani — a cigar-chomping former communist with a resume thick with unglamorous posts and almost zero name recognition outside Italy.
His high forehead burrowed in a frown, Bersani came across as looking so stern in early campaign posters that aides had to scramble to replace them with ones showing him smiling. Still, he handily beat the easy-going, rakishly handsome young mayor of Florence, Matteo Renzi, in a primary last fall of their Democratic Party to become the center-left candidate for premier.
'The opposite of Berlusconi'
And that might point to his appeal: Italians seem to find his complete lack of glamour refreshing after the rambunctious Berlusconi years.
"His strongest point is he's the opposite of Berlusconi," said Jonathan Hopkin, a political scientist at the London School of Economics. "Berlusconi is a showman. He (Bersani) is not entertaining."
The ascent of Bersani — whose camp in late January enjoyed roughly 33 percent support against some 27 percent for the Berlusconi side — also has much to do with his ability to draw on the former Communist Party's entrenched network of activists, funding and economic connections, such as business cooperatives. The publication of poll results is banned in the last two weeks before elections in Italy.
But in the counterintuitive world of Italian politics, Bersani has long embraced economic liberalization in several stints in government.
As industry minister, Bersani waged an uphill battle to free up such areas of the economy as energy, insurance and banking services.
Even the smallest reform efforts brought resistance. Operators of Italy's gasoline retail network called a strike in 2007 when the government decided to allow supermarkets to sell gasoline. Similar protests frustrated plans to auction off taxi licenses and to allow supermarkets to sell nonprescription drugs such as aspirin. Years later, even Monti had no luck trying to persuade the powerful lobby of pharmacists to surrender their hold on nonprescription drugs.
As transport minister, Bersani branded unions "irresponsible" when an airport ground workers' strike combined with an air traffic controllers' strike on the same weekend train workers walked off the job.
He also worked to undo the center-left's image as supportive of a sprawling state economy, especially in the energy sector. He championed legislation that ended a 37-year-old monopoly by then state-controlled electric utility ENEL.
Born in 1951 — 15 years to the day after Berlusconi — Bersani grew up in Emilia Romagna, the affluent north-central region at the heart of Italy's so-called "red belt." There, citizens in cities like Bologna voted for decades for Italy's communists, and later, for the communists' post-Soviet heirs.
Bersani's website shows him posing in a childhood photo with his parents against a backdrop of Esso gas pumps. His father, a car mechanic, ran a gas station.
In his autobiography, Bersani recounts an episode from his childhood that points to what might drive him as a leader.
He once organized a strike of fellow altar boys after the church pastor refused to divvy out to the tips that families left for them after weddings or baptisms. "The pastor would seize the money and buy sweets and nougat bars for us at Easter and Christmas. That didn't seem fair to me."
So during one ceremony, the altar boys took off their cassocks and walked out of the church. "The next Christmas, the pastor gave the boys an equal share of the tips of that year, stipulating one condition: that our mothers knew the exact figure we got."
Fairness is a quality Bersani promises to promote if elected premier: "At the first Cabinet meeting, we have to think about those who have nothing to eat," he told a campaign rally.
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Leave a Comment:
I hope you know what you're doing, Italy.
For the love of god!
While Communism isn't the greatest ideology in the world, it doesn't make people satanic hell beast bent on world domination.
And before you say, "look at history." I'd like to point out that there are numerous countries out there that hold strong Communist and Socialist ideologies and most of them are actually doing quite well.
The Soviets and Nazis left a really bad taste in our mouths, but they were extremes. And remember, this isn't the 1950s anymore.
Mamma Mia, veniamo comunista, ora saremo peggio di Grecia.
Regardless of the title the Nazis were NOT socialist. They were fascist, which is the government and industry banding together at the expense of the people......hmmmm......
Yeah, remember the old saying, "those who pay attention to history are, uh, doomed...." oh, whatever.
Please enumerate 3 or 4 successful socialist, communist nations vis a vis the USA. And based on what standards are they doing quite well? Did the USA become the greatest, strongest, richest nation in history by following socialistic ideologies or free market, capitalistic ideologies?
Iraqi wars and oil price manipulations using Iraqi wars as an excuse gave us PIIGS.
Worse was the leadership of the most wretched Berlusconi, an insensitive too rich womaniser.
"Grabbing fewer headlines but a greater share of support: Pier Luigi Bersani — a cigar-chomping former communist with a resume thick with unglamorous posts and almost zero name recognition outside Italy."
With sanctions on Iranian oil and price manipulations from $40 in 2009 to current more than $110, Italy will be hurt more badly!
More nations (especially oil importing) will be added to PIIGS.
In such a sinking ship, anyone including ex-commie, Bersani will not be able to do much!
Italy and the U.S. have a lot in common.
One country just elected a career politician communist who has a smoking problem, and the other country is Italy.
To Arthur; how did you get to be so delusional ?
"I hope you know what you're doing, Italy".
Hmmmm.... Ex-Communist. Now calling himself a Democrat with Socialist ideals. I'd say they're voting in an Italian version of Obama. One smokes cigars, the other smokes Newports. Same gift, different box.
GJAlt
Pure capitalism gave us the depression and the latest recession. Capitalism with some socialist influence gave us the greatest economy in the world. We are losing it because of the willingness to spend it on stupid wars and NOT investing in our own country. Pure capitalism allows jobs to be exported with no penalty. I little socialist influence would keep the jobs here.
The best economy is the one we had for quite some time, before Reagan. Capitalism with modification to counter the unbridled greed and irresponsibility of the monied class.
: "At the first Cabinet meeting, we have to think about those who have nothing to eat," he told a campaign rally.
Stinking COmmie.hehehehe
If Barry had a son, he would act like just like Pier! This will make obama happy, he's probably planning a multi-million dollar vacation to Italy right now in anticipation!
I can see your reading of the article is lacking comprehension-try to understand this before you start accusing: this dude is a former communist.
tthose of you over 50 might remember that the COmmunist Party in Italy used to scare policy maKers in the U.S.
Even those of us under thirty are well aware of how terrified US politicians were of Communism. Something that persists to this day.
A politician can have solid reformist, free-market, union-fighting credentials, but mention that they're ex-Communist and it's as good as having devil horns.
Agreeed, SF. ANd look why ... As I sarcasticallly noted in my post the first thing he's concerned about is the people who have nothing to eat... a real RED!
As if free marketeers aren't interested in feeding the hungry? Those on the right just want to to help ourselves and watch everyone else die of starvation, choke on polluted water, blah, blah, blah.
Your insinuation is specious at best.
The debate is more akin to the 'give a man a fish/teach a man to fish' construct, rather than leftists care, righties want you to die. Let's debate, but if you can't make your point without constructing straw men and being demogogic, then what's the point? And how secure are you in your position?
I don't think either of us were criticizing free marketeers (I certainly wasn't). I was merely agreeing that people find the label of "Communist" so poisonous, despite their generally good intentions, that even an EX-Communist suffers substantially from the affiliation. Politicians on the right don't want people to starve.
You're the one setting up straw men here, not me.
Piffle.
Agreed. There's way too much posturing on both sides. I think generally it's a matter of degree rather than absolute differences. That said, THere are differences. I believe the basic dividing line between Right and Left has to do with how one views oneslef in relation to others. People on the RIght emphasize personal choice and the power of personal will. People on the Left tend to look at themselves as part of a larger picture and recognizie the connections between people. Not to bring religion into this (I am not even slightly reilgious) but, I believe the basic Christian message has to do with acknowledging and acting on the connection between humans.
Who wrote this article? I'm in Italy and Berlusconi is chomping at the lead. He will lock the region of Sicily, and the regions of Piemonte, Lombardia, Veneto (all most important in terms of senate seats) and the Campania are very close and could swing his way. If Silvio wins again Italians can only blame themselves. If Bersani wins, he will not have a type of strong government....he will be pummeled from Silvio's camp, Beppe Grillo type of supporters, not to mention the Lega. This article reads more like wishful thinking than anything.
Who is right person for the job ?
This is why I don't think Italians should be "allowed" to vote until they decide who is right. As of now, they are all clowns running around the same cirus. Nicchi Vendola is onle of the few who has a platform he's stuck to for his entire life (and I mean since he was a teen). But he's too far left to lead any type of real coalition.
Do you live in Italy ? How much is a metric gallon of gas? Just curious.
It's expensive. Americans shouldn't complain. Gas is paid by the litre...and lately IIRC a litre is going for around 1,5-2 euros. Consider that conversion into how many gallons that would be for your car and how much it would cost.
Dee0211
Se la sinistra vince l'Italia sta andando all'a merda.
redvirginia, If the left wins they will mass into what ?
Dee ...I hope the impending "Socialist" economy does not have a negative affect on the "Calcio"
Because that is what it is, the desire of this website and others to portray communism/ scocialism as the new norm. These ideologies pave way to fascist regimes, they always do with limited personal freedoms and the destruction of ideas and creativity, good luck with that.
1 US gallon is = roughly 3.8 liters.
So lets split your range and call it 1.75 Euros per liter X 3.8 liters = 6.65 Euros per US gallon.
Right now, for every Euro, you would get $1.34 in US currency
So when accounting for Currency change and switch from liters to gallons, the price Dee0211 stated would = $8.91 per Gallon.
WOW
So lets reverse it.
At $3.79 per US gallon (in Florida)
3.79 divided by 3.8 = .997 US cents per liter. So we'll call it $1 US
For every US Dollar switching to Euro, you'd get .747 Euros
So for comparison, Dee would be paying roughly 0.75 Euros per liter if Dee were in the US.
Interesting.
Uh, how is a country supposed to decide who is "right" besides voting?
Besides, poll data is somewhat more convincing that your unsupported assertion as to the results, Dee. I hope for Italy's sake that you're wrong.
Nobody's portraying Communism as normal. And socialism IS fairly normal in Europe, so it's less a concerted bias by NBC and more like regular, objective reporting.
SF accountant- socialism goes against every fiber of the American Constitution. While it may be readily accepted in Europe....Here in he US it is NOT...And do you really think that NBC does not have a progressive/socialist agenda?They use stories such as this to push it on the mushheads on this vine on a daily basis. You are lying to yourself and others.
I do not speculate as to NBC's "agenda", nor am I interested in debating socialism's relationship with America's constitution. I'm just countering your point by asserting that Communism is not portrayed favorably in any of the stories I see on this site, and that in a story ABOUT EUROPE it's perfectly acceptable, if not necessary, to portray socialist government as "the norm".
Talking about what America accepts is largely irrelevant on a story about Italy.
SF ----This network does indeed portray a progressive/socialist agenda as the norm. You only need read between the lines of the stories. It bombards its readers with these types of stories on an almost daily basis. Their support for such ideals are thinly veiled ....and sometimes not at all. Especially when it comes to our own administration.
Yeah, okay, whatever. I don't care. The article is about Italy, and its upcoming election. Do you think that Berlusconi is a superior candidate, just because he's right of center? Because that would actually be relevant to the topic.
My 'claims' are not unsupported. If you can read Italian, I will include the links to the media here...since as I said, I am in Italy. And Silvio has been chomping at the bits; since January he has cut Bersani's lead by half. He's only down 4% in Veneto and Piemonte. I am not a supporter, which is why I said Italians deserve everything they get if he's re-elected. And per di piu, they bright it on themselves, trying to get Berlu out at all costs, mainly for "Rubygate"....then let themselves be set up with a economic puppet simply because he "isn't Berlusconi." That was not good enough reason.
And about voting. They don't have to vote is what I say. Monti could carry on, and I believe Italians should have to think long and hard (yes, like children in punishment) about who they want. Bersani is simply the leftist version of Silvio. Two peas in the same pod, only more opposing ends. Nothing will change is Bersani gets elected and I predict if so, his gov't will collapse before 2 years, bringing forth elections yet again. Idem Berlusconi. Italy....is screwed.
When it comes to government, Italians are idiots; always have been.
Hey John: those "idiots" at one time ruled all of the Mediterranean, and most of Europe; now they have the third largest economy in Europe, everyone has health insurance, a lower mortality rate for children than the US, much lower gun violence than US, higher literacy than the US and higher life expectancy than the US.
bob ... yeh the ROmans terrorized most of Europe, enslaved millions, slaughtered millions more, and killed Jesus. Their economy is on the edge, thanks to socialism, and the gun violence is low because they don't have a minority situation like the US has. In fact, they are making a lot of the guns being used to kill in America.
I don't know this man but looking at past government leaders and the Italian economy I don't see how things could get much worse.
Saying that; Italy and Italians are a noble people and we should see what their new leadership will bring to the table in the unified European economy to their benefit and the benefit of all.
That's what all progressive/socialists say ......"just wait a little longer" or ....."lets see how this turns out" . It does not work and it never will ....people do not like political experiments. Especially during times of struggle.
Well, that's the problem: one of the "past government leaders", namely the worst one, Berlusconi, might just be re-elected into power. This isn't about right vs. left, it's about a politician with a well-established and utterly dismal record of governance trying to seize power once again, versus one who MIGHT actually deliver some of the reforms that Italy needs.
It's not a great choice. But hey, the Italians COULD vote for Monti. They just don't want to.
The wild card is the 5 Star Movement, led by former comedian Beppe Grillo, now on a "Tsunami Tour", filling the town squares to overflowing in every city he visits. Like the "Occupy" movement in the US, for all the frustrated citizens who find that none of the parties represent them, he was the trigger that woke people up and got them working together for positive change.
Will it also fizzle out into nothing before it accomplishes anything (besides generate a few internet memes) like the Occupy movement did?
Italy has one of the lowest birthrates in Europe at 1.34 They are losing almost 40%% of their population with each generation. Who is going to pay for all their entitlements. It is estimated that by the year 2050 a child in Italy will have no brother, sister aunt or uncle. If anyone doubts this, in search type national birth rates or italy fertility rate. All of Europe has an average birth rate of 1.34 and are dying out. Islamic Immigration is their nursury.
Germany, if current trends are any indication.
First France now Italy .......Seems that when an economic crisis befalls a particular nation. These socialist spiders come out from the dark corners of the room. Just look what is happening to us here in the US. BTW ....there is no such thing as a former communist. This article leads one to believe that this man is reformed ....
What, because a Communist is somehow incapable of changing their minds? Of course you can be a former Communist. Given how popular Communism was before people actually got a look at it in action, I'm sure there are a great many, actually.
He is an idealist .....Show me one who ever believed themselves to be wrong. When you look in the mirror and say "I am going to do everything my way for the greater good". What on earth would or could persuade that type of person. So NO ...I suspect there NOT a "great many". They just seem to come up with new names when they have worn the old ones thin... but their motives never change.
How many former Communists have you known? I've met a few. And if you want me to "show" you one, the very subject of this article is a good start: a former Red who stood up to unions to free the economy from onerous regulation and state oversight. That's an established history of legislation that would be anathema to Communists, which seek to protect the worker at all costs.
There's nothing unique about Communism that makes them somehow unable to decide they were wrong when faced with overwhelming evidence, of which there is a great deal. Of course there are many holdouts, but I fail to see why "that type of person" is an intellectual lost cause. Some might come up with different ideologies that aren't as radical or haven't been proven to be completely ineffective, as you said... but those aren't Communists anymore (hence the "former), and I don't understand why you get to decide that they actually are.
"Publication of poll results is banned during the last 2 weeks before an election in Italy."
WoW!! At least they are doing something right.
Hah! I just heard a report on NPR about how creative these pollsters are on getting their results public. They are using the internet and setting up the poll results to look like the outcome of a horse race, and another is using Cardinal's names who have a chance of being elected pope. They just slightly change the names. Gotta love those wacky Italians!
wow the commies seem to be in style now....Italy, here...
Does marxism tell you how to understand and cope with the social forces of your society, giving you insight to working with different points of view ; or does it give you a sickle to cut off their heads, robbing the electorate of their leaders. They like to roll the dice in Italy..................
Italy has been under the direct control of corrupt officials for almost 45 years. berlusconi . need I say more ?
ANYTHING would be better than the previous deal between monti and berlusconi. Those peoplke need help and CHANGE. more than anything.... Lets see.
Former communist? Yeah, fat chance. He'll be Italy's Obama. Of course, after Berlusconi, nothing could shock me about Italian politics.
The worst trait of liberals is that they never learn their lesson. Italy will be the new Iraland, Greece and Detroit.
This guy sounds alright. People need to read the article and stop getting bent out of shape about the "former-Communist" label.