There is the possibility that the Monti government, engaged in the tremendous mission of relaunching the Italian economy, will find itself facing two opposing populisms in the coming weeks: that of the Northern League and that of the "pitchforks" in Sicily and more generally in the South. The two populisms are opposite from a geographical point of view, but converge from a political point of view. Both are nourished by considering the central government as an "enemy", above all if it places a policy of sacrifices for individual categories at the center of its action, instead putting the general interest of citizens at the centre. Both fan the flames of protests, sometimes justified, always blaming the central government and ignoring the serious shortcomings of the local ruling class.
Yesterday in Milan the populism of the North, the one represented by the Carroccio took to the streets. Little or nothing new as regards the political line: insults to the government and in particular to the Prime Minister Mario Monti, directly threatened by Umberto Bossi (“They will come to take you home”) and then the usual victimization of a North that would pay for everyone. Instead, there was something new with regard to internal relations and those with the so-called base. The impression is that the internal clash has been more patched up than overcome, that the base is convinced of this, which yesterday in the square loudly booed the exponents of the so-called magic circle (from Rosy Mauro to Reguzzoni), sparing not even what for for a long time he was considered the supreme and indisputable leader. In short, the Northern League is showing significant signs of weakening, even if it will try to take advantage of the serious problems that the PDL has in the North, facing the next local elections alone.
And so it is from the South, from Sicily in particular, that the new populist wave is coming. Let's talk about the so-called "pitchforks" movement, which with the wildcat strike in road haulage and not only has put the Sicilian economy into a serious crisis. A movement which, after a very short break granted in the last few hours, is preparing to relaunch its rebellious action in the coming days. Let's be clear: Sicily and more generally in the South, there has always been and even more there is now, fertile ground for the degeneration of any protest into de facto rebellion bordering on subversion. The precedents are not lacking: in Sicily the separatism of the Finocchiaro Apriles; in Calabria the fascist revolt of the Ciccio Francos. As for Campania, one can think of Laurismo, but even in more recent times there is no shortage of bad examples. Naturally, the first to profit from this terrain are organized crime organizations: the Camorra in the Neapolitan area, the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria and the Mafia in Sicily. And it is no coincidence that a serious and courageous person like Ivan Lo Bello wasted no time and immediately denounced the mafia infiltration in the pitchfork revolt.
Aldo Cazzullo wrote in the "Corriere della Sera": "In Sicily we are witnessing the birth pangs that precede the birth of the Southern League or Leagues" with "a movement that announces itself as populist rather than patronage, rebel and extra-political rather than institutional and government". Difficult not to share this analysis. What makes the populist upsurge coming from the southern regions even more worrying is the low level of the local political class. Once upon a time in the South, parties were represented by quality political personnel. Just think of the Macaluso and La Torre in Sicily, of Amendola and Napolitano, but also of De Mita and Sullo in Campania or Giacomo Mancini in Calabria. Today that is no longer the case. And it is no coincidence that in Sicily the governor Lombardo (who should also have some responsibility in the management of his regions) immediately applauded the reasons for the revolt by undertaking to represent them in Rome, perhaps in the next meeting with the prime minister. Taking the lead of insurgent movements is certainly easier than opposing them with the reasons of good governance.
That's good governance. Unfortunately it is a matter that especially in the South and above all in recent years (of Berlusconi, but also of Bassolinism) has been lacking in the South and not only in the South. That good governance, which Salvemini, not always rightly arguing with Giolitti, placed at the center of his southern question. Perhaps it would be time to pay attention to it. Mario Monti could do it himself, a man who comes from the North, as Pasquale Saraceno came from those regions, who dedicated a life to the reasons of the South.
