Rise of Populists in Italy Alarms Europe
ROME (Dispatches) -- With political novice Giuseppe Conte set to become Italy's next prime minister, reaction at home focuses on his balancing act to hold power, while allies and the European Union fear a collision course with the new anti-establishment government.
Conte, a relatively unknown lawyer picked as a compromise candidate, is charged with enacting a controversial populist, anti-migrant platform of the top two parties from the March 4 elections — the 5-Star Movement and the nationalist League.
Their victory as the top vote-getters comes amid the populist wave that resulted in Britain's Brexit referendum and the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president, both in 2016. Italy's election was marked by vulgar and bitter attacks against the political establishment, migrants and the European Union.
"Conte steps into an enormously difficult position,” said Javier Noriega, chief economist with Hildebrandt and Ferrar. More high-profile choices for prime minister may have been skipped over either because they were opposed by the coalition or because they recognized the extreme challenges Italy faces, he said.
Italy is about to become the first European Union country headed by a populist government, sparking jitters across the continent. The headline in The Times of London on Thursday said: "Alarm in Europe as Italy’s populists rise to power.” The Sun called Conte an "Unknown leader of bizarre Italian coalition.”
In Italy, reaction focused on how little is known about Conte or the disparate coalition he will head. The Italian center-right daily Il Foglio was harsh, proclaiming, "The Third Republic is Born as the World Laughs.” Il Fatto Quotidiano showed Conte on a tightrope under the headline, "The Acrobat.”
A day meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Conte’s nomination was questioned amid allegations he lied about his academic credentials, but the parties backing him denied Conte lied and still backed him.
Verzichelli said one of Conte's biggest challenges will be balancing the interests of the two parties that back him. They both have populist elements but are not natural allies. The 5-Star Movement is Internet-savvy and anti-elite, while the League is right-wing and nationalistic — and Conte is not a member of either party.
Conte, a relatively unknown lawyer picked as a compromise candidate, is charged with enacting a controversial populist, anti-migrant platform of the top two parties from the March 4 elections — the 5-Star Movement and the nationalist League.
Their victory as the top vote-getters comes amid the populist wave that resulted in Britain's Brexit referendum and the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president, both in 2016. Italy's election was marked by vulgar and bitter attacks against the political establishment, migrants and the European Union.
"Conte steps into an enormously difficult position,” said Javier Noriega, chief economist with Hildebrandt and Ferrar. More high-profile choices for prime minister may have been skipped over either because they were opposed by the coalition or because they recognized the extreme challenges Italy faces, he said.
Italy is about to become the first European Union country headed by a populist government, sparking jitters across the continent. The headline in The Times of London on Thursday said: "Alarm in Europe as Italy’s populists rise to power.” The Sun called Conte an "Unknown leader of bizarre Italian coalition.”
In Italy, reaction focused on how little is known about Conte or the disparate coalition he will head. The Italian center-right daily Il Foglio was harsh, proclaiming, "The Third Republic is Born as the World Laughs.” Il Fatto Quotidiano showed Conte on a tightrope under the headline, "The Acrobat.”
A day meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Conte’s nomination was questioned amid allegations he lied about his academic credentials, but the parties backing him denied Conte lied and still backed him.
Verzichelli said one of Conte's biggest challenges will be balancing the interests of the two parties that back him. They both have populist elements but are not natural allies. The 5-Star Movement is Internet-savvy and anti-elite, while the League is right-wing and nationalistic — and Conte is not a member of either party.