Virginia Raggi can tell all the lies she wants to explain the NO to the Rome Olympics, which Beppe Grillo imposed on her to draw a pitiful veil over the tearing rifts of the 5 Star Movement, but she cannot hide the true soul of the grillini, which manifests itself in fear of great challenges and great works due to a profound insecurity and an infinite distrust in themselves and in Italians.
The mayor of Rome had many ways to refuse the Olympics but he didn't find even one that was really convincing. Let's see in detail what consistency the reasons for Raggi's NO to the Olympic Games have.
1) THE COSTS OF THE GAMES – It's true: the Olympics have a cost, but who was supposed to pay for it? Rome or the State? Italy or the IOC? But above all: how much will it cost Rome and Italy, in terms of international image as well as resources, investments and jobs, to give up the Olympics? Can a country in economic and political crisis like Brazil hold the Olympics and not Italy?
2) BRICKBACKS AND THE BUILDERS' NIGHTMARE – It is an argument that Mayor Raggi has raised forcefully, but the Organizing Committee of the Olympics, as CONI has repeatedly repeated, could have been entrusted to the representatives of the Grillo majority who lead the Municipality of Rome. Does the 5 Star Movement not trust itself?
3) STEALING AND CORRUPTION – In Italy, it is said, big events are always the occasion for looting and mangers. This has often been the case, but the Snow Olympics in Turin and the Expo (after the beneficial intervention of the Canton Anti-Corruption Authority) demonstrated the exact opposite. Of course you have to keep your eyes open and avoid underground characters who circulate in the Raggi staff.
4) MONTI'S NUMBER AND RAGGI'S NUMBER - Why could Monti have given up on the Olympics in Rome without being crucified and Raggi not? Too easy to hide under the comfortable umbrella of the Monti government, ignoring the fact that today the situation in the country has completely changed since then. Why? For at least three reasons: 1) Italy, also thanks to Monti, is no longer on the verge of bankruptcy as it was in 2011-2012 (check the spread to believe); 2) Rome was then infested by Mafia Capital to which the judiciary dealt decisive blows; 3) against corruption then there were few levees and few controls: today there is the Anti-Corruption Authority, set up by the Renzi government and energetically led by Raffaele Cantone which does not give anyone any discounts and, as demonstrated by the initial events of the Expo knows how to intervene with determination when it smells of bad dealing.
5) THE OLYMPIC GAMES, ROME OR ITALY'S PROBLEM? – Raggi evoked her electoral victory to argue that the Romans are against the Games, but she forgets that the vote of the Romans in the last administrative elections was influenced by a thousand political reasons and not just by the Olympics. However, this is not the crucial point, because there is a more fundamental question that deserves to be raised and which unfortunately remains unanswered: the NO to the Olympics commits not only Rome but all of Italy and if you really want to know what citizens really think and not just spans of the Olympics it would be reasonable to consult all Italians and not just Romans. Or not?
In conclusion: mayor Raggi, next time tell us another story but don't make a fool of yourself as you did for the Olympics. And, if you can, stop thinking that Italians, even those who vote for you, are all fools.
