I don’t know if it will work either but, given that nothing else seems to have worked before now, I think it’s worth a try.

Anyway, with Cyprus going the way it seems to be, I would say that everything has as much chance as anything else and things may be taken out of everyone’s hands soon enough.

Yes, it is a rather stunning day today. I wish I was out walking the dogs and, maybe, stopping for a beer

Enjoy

Well, they are not playing at their full potential. For many reasons. One them being BG. We will see where all this will lead us.

I trust M5S but I am not 100% that their strategy is the right way to change things in Italy. However, I might be wrong. Actually, I strongly hope to be wrong.

And, by the way, it is your business! You live here, after all.

And now, back to sun

I know it’s none of my business really, especially as I don’t vote any more, however ……

Sometimes, I think, working to much within the system won’t work. There’s too much corruption and dealing behind the scenes. The only way it will change is if some party like M5S get a majority. Now, here, in Italy, an absolute majority has never been seen (I think) and, maybe, it’s not even possible but it’s worth a try. If M5S had a majority it could pass laws that prohibit anyone with a criminal record from being an MP (that may get rid of a few of the ‘old guard), for example; change the salary and pension benefits for being an MP; set a retirement age, etc.

They ARE playing. They got the votes – a quarter of Italians want this change – but now they need many more votes to be able to actively do something.

The problem with coalitions (see the Lib Dems in the UK) is that your proposals get watered down and, sometimes, you have to agree to something that is not what you said in the election or against your ideals. If they go into coalition they will surely lose a lot of the good faith they have (imo). As I see it, the blank votes is a method of hurrying fresh elections (that everyone knows will have to come eventually) when the success of M5S is fresh in everyone’s mind.

But I think you’re right about BG. Unfortunately, he does seems a bit like an unelected PM and that’s not good. To be honest, he would have been better to talk to the people (who voted for the Speaker) individually and not do this publicly.

Finally – play but only when you are pretty sure you have a winning hand. No point in trying to win when you don’t have a hope in hell.

But I bow to your greater knowledge, of course

I voted for the M5S. However, I think that if you want to change the system you have to work within the system. Without a government, how can you change the system?

Also, I don’t like the fact the BG wants to run the movement and I’m not sure that
” Having seen how well the M5S has done, more people are likely to vote for them. Now they are seen as a force for change and change is what Italians want”

Yes, we do want a revolution and perhaps M5S is the ONLY political force able to do it. Said that, social & political fights take place in the parliament. Blank votes do not help. Not in the long run. At some point, you have to “play” in order to change. Don’t want to play? Don’t run for the elections.