Italy's 150th birthday

"Italy marks the 150th anniversary of its unification."

Unification ? What unification ?

Hopefully Italy will get rid of Berlusconi as their birthday gift to themselves.

Come on now, the Economist is unfair ! Isn't Russia celebrating something as well ? Why should Italy claim all the glory ?

Here in the northeast of Italy we are planning a big party with all our friends - to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. There is however a proposal to move the party to Austria or Slovenia - just to express our dissent.

@JOE SOLARIS.Ireland,Slovenia,Austria,and the blessing of the fascist regime of Paris.Are you Joe Solaris or Arlecchino?

@stefano

I am not Arlecchino and not even Umberto Bossi. As a non-Communist leftist I confess to a certain weakness for Nichi Vendola. If my comments offend you, you should hear what the Lega people here have to say. I am a moderate on the separatism issue.
BTW, what is your position on Garibaldi? What do you think of his historical battle, also vis-a-vis other personalities and powers?

After one century and a half since the unification of Italy into a single nation, political parties discuss about the opportunity to divide the nation into a federal one. This requirement has been brought up form the first time by the Northern League on the assumption that both the poorer underdeveloped South of Italy and the corrupted centralized State are stealing economic and financial resources from the richer developed North. The Northern League’s claims have always been carried out with passion and harsh words by its leaders who also threatened few years ago to wage a secession war if their demands were not considered. Personally I have no absolute exception about federalism, but I believe that such an important change must be made with the participation of whole the political parties, not only by the majority. Moreover the federal reform must be discussed by the Parliament which cannot restrict itself voting the reform bills written by the Government. What worries me is that nobody – even the Northern League – has a definite idea of how an Italian federal state should be. In all these years we watched a succession of different lows and reform bills, struggling to put together a reform plan which is far to be organized.

@JOE SOLARIS.I think that MAZZINI and GARIBALDI were the true heroes of our RISORGIMENTO.They gave any moment of their life for our Country and her dignity and died poor.Men like these are the pride of mankind,and those who try to destroy their creation deserve shame,whatsoever is their name:LEGA NORD or else.But be sure that the LN won't break Italy:they are bluffing.They know that this attempt would cost the earnings of their dittarella,and probably the own life of some of them.