Could Giorgia Meloni become Italy’s next prime minister?
At the last Italian general election in 2018 the right-wing populist party, Fratelli d’Italia, got just 4 per cent of…
Boris is a saint compared to ‘Bunga Bunga’ Berlusconi
It was only a matter of time before someone really twisted the knife in and compared Boris ‘partygate’ Johnson to…
Roman myths
Ravenna, Italy The war in Ukraine has caused an unholy convergence of the left and right in Italy.…
Popularity contest
Might war in Ukraine boost populism?
Do Russians support Putin’s war?
Everyone is calling the conflict in Ukraine Putin’s war and insisting that it has nothing to do with the Russians…
The pointless tyranny of Italy’s Covid pass
While most European countries, especially Britain, are relaxing their Covid restrictions, Italy which has the toughest of the lot, this…
Wolf at the door
Italy’s wolves are on the march
Sergio Mattarella is Italy’s captive president
Ah, those Italians! Italy’s parliament spent last week trying and failing to elect a new president in seven secret ballots.…
Mario Draghi and the murky quest to find Italy’s next president
In ancient Rome, a diviner called a haruspex would observe the entrails of sacrificed sheep and poultry, especially their livers,…
Bounce back
Can Berlusconi become Italy’s next president?
Why is Bilbo Baggins a fascist favourite?
If you were asked to think of a perfect fascist, never in a month of Sundays would you suggest Bilbo Baggins…
The fight to refuse
Why are Europe’s fascists so opposed to compulsory vaccination?
Reports of the demise of Italian populism are greatly exaggerated
Britain’s newspapers have called the results of the local elections in Italy the death of populism. The Times, for example,…
Italy’s draconian vaccine laws are terrifyingly popular
In early August, Italy banned the unvaccinated from most forms of social life, then most forms of travel and now…
Italy, the ‘far right’ and the muted opposition to vaccine passes
Dante’s Beach, Ravenna Here is your starter for ten. Which Italian political party believes that individual liberty is sacred? Answer:…
The Italians are deluding themselves about the English
Not content with winning Euro 2020, many Italians have spent the days since the final engaged in a febrile orgy…
Letter from Italy
Dante’s Beach, Ravenna My fiery Italian wife Carla is not just a passionate patriot but also a devout Catholic, and…
England, Italy and the power of national pride
As an Englishman in enemy territory I am lucky that love is a more powerful emotion than patriotism otherwise after…
Can Italy’s arch Eurocrat save his country?
The world these days is so blasè about the destruction of democracy that no one even thinks it worthy of…
A shadow over Italy
Life has been turned upside down
Life in lockdown
Italy is being consumed by panic
Italian Notebook
During times of contagion, you begin to understand why fascist salutes were once so popular. The foot-tap is replacing the…
Will Italy’s warring politicians succeed in shutting Salvini out of power?
What now looks like a distinct possibility in Italy after today’s resignation of Italian prime minister Giuseppe Conte is a…
The secret of Matteo Salvini’s success
Last summer, when Italy became the first major European country to get a populist government, Steve Bannon was cock-a-hoop. The…
It may seem incredible, but I’d trust an Italian over a Frenchman any day
For a few years before coming to Italy, I lived in Paris and I cannot tell you the life-enhancing difference…
