Italy has ended an experiment which has lasted since 1994. What can we say about this period?
It was a try!
But despite all the good things they experienced during this period like the parties, putting the Germans into place and a general good spirit, something was missing.
In the old days the government worked together with the part of the industry which is located in the south of Italy where the poor part of the population is living – Huge organizations with foreign connections to the United States which were able to work efficient despite all efforts by the police, custom and tax departments – Huge organizations with the potential to boost the export.
Under Berlusconi the focus went north to the regions which should have been part of Austria. Of course the politics made much of the crime committed by people who wanted to be a part of Austria disappear. There are some who state that the suicide by Aldo Moro was a murder and some members of the political elite back then were involved in this incident. Under the rule of Berlusconi we saw no bombings and kidnappings.
But we also were signs that Italy was moving away from democracy. The actions of Giuliano Mignini in the Amanda Knox case made many Europeans wonder if Italy belonged in among the countries in the European Union. Businessmen like me began to wonder if their industry was collapsed. Denmark bought fewer than 100 trains in Italy back in 1999. They have not been able to produce all these trains now where we write 2011.
It became clear that Italy began an experiment back in 1994. It is time to end this experiment now and they need to move on. But to where?
I believe that they need to present something safe. They need to go back and recreate the political environment which existed before Berlusconi entered politics and they need to do this despite claims of close ties to criminal elements. Those ties would not scare us – the European customers – off. We recognize the Italian culture. We do know how their society works.
However, they need to act now. Europe has never needed swift action from Italy as it is the case now.
