Thursday 10 April 2008

Vote early and vote often!



Originally uploaded by Ron Combo
It's election time here in Italy. I am not going to try to explain much because (a) you are probably not interested and (b) even after nine years (and in common with most Italians) I understand very little about Italian politics. There are 16 choices for the voter under a proportional representation system. But these are not parties but coalitions. In total there were at the last count some 140-odd parties standing for election. This poster defines the coalitions just in this area of Piedmont. As you can see they are rather keen on rainbow colours and the hammer and sickle. Party No. 5 is Lega Nord which wants secession from the south (Rome the Thief!) and only two days ago its leader called for his supporters to take to the streets with their guns if the voting form (about the size of an unfolded Ordnance Survey map) was not reprinted to give his party more prominence. There's also a Cripple Coalition (No. 10) and No. 12 is the coalition of the Talking Grasshoppers. I haven't got the faintest idea either, before you ask.

7 comments:

Tui Snider said...

Glad to know I'm not the only expat who finds Italian politics baffling!

And how about Berlusconi? I'm still a newbie to the language, and always think I am misunderstanding him, but upon translation discover that, yes, he really DID say [insert latest outrageous statement] here...

Peter Ashley said...

This would appear to be the kind of system that would interest Bob Muggerby in Rhodesia. If no-one knows how it works it must be a doddle to fix. Why don't you start your own party Ron (free Limoncello for pre-school infants). In fact you could call it the Cello Party 'cos it'd be just one big fiddle.

Ron Combo said...

Hello Mental Mosaic! I have just had a look at your blog which is pretty professional and tweaked up, so you must be awfully young. Obviously Berlusconi brings the happy powder to Italian politics, and still manages to get elected. I have to say, however, that his latest rant about magistrates having to undergo psychiatric testing before they can sit in a court might be a good idea, not only for Italy but also for the UK.

Fred Fibonacci said...

We London folk are getting all revved up for our own Mayoral contest on May 1st. Boris has Ken good and rattled, and not before time. This election may yet prove to be as colourful as yours Ron.

ps 'Vote Cello: Ron man, Ron vote'

Toby Savage said...

A true democracy, everybody gets a go at running the country.

Ron Combo said...

Berlusconi recently said that people should vote for him because all the women on the left are plug ugly. Anyone want to dispute this?

Peter Ashley said...

I've always fancied Diane Abbot, as did the late, great Alan Clarke. If this is of any help.