In saying that the time of parties is over, and that his is a movement, Muscat echoes Benito Mussolini…and Beppe Grillo
Nicolas Farrell, writing in The Spectator:
Now, less than four years after its foundation, his (Beppe Grillo’s) movement is the largest single party in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house, after it secured 26 per cent of the poll at this week’s inconclusive Italian general elections. It is not, insists this fascist of the forest, a party. It is a movement. Parties, he is adamant, are the problem, not the solution.
Mussolini founded his Fasci di Combattimento in Milan on 23 March 1919 and less than four years later he was prime minister. Fascism was not, he insisted, a party but a movement. Parties, he was adamant, were the problem, not the solution. Fascism would be an ‘anti-party’ of free spirits who refused to be tied down by the straitjacket of parties with their dogmas and doctrines. This is precisely what Grillo says about his own movement.
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http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/8854261/italys-new-duce/
Muscat knew all along that this kind of talk works in certain countries, and realized that Malta is fertile ground for his ultimate goals.
It was same as the Price Club situation in which wholesalers who were owed millions kept supplying the supermarket all the same to keep their goods on the shelves for the masses.
I could see it unfolding but no one listened to me. The Labour mass movement is the political equivalent of a long firm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_firm
Actually this type of talk can work anywhere in the world. Gaddafi spoke of uniting his country and was celebrated as the saviour of Libya. Which oddly enough sounds familiar too.
Celebrated by whom, for heaven’s sake? As if anyone who DIDN’T celebrate Gaddafi would live to tell the tale.
Does Beppe Grillo know Mario Vella?
Am I following your link about who is actually organising the puppet show for the master puppet?
Muscat is fond of pretending to be an intellectual. He could take a leaf out of one of the several books by contemporary public academics. Or he his communications dwarf could print out this bit and read it to him.
“When we talk about ‘democracy’, we are in fact referring to a number of different interlocking institutions. People sticking pieces of paper into ballot boxes, yes. Their elected representatives making speeches and voting in a large assembly hall, yes. But those things alone do not automatically give you democracy. Outwardly, the legislators of countries like Russia and Venezuela are elected, but neither qualifies as a true democracy in the eyes of impartial observers, not to mention those of local opposition leaders.
Just as important as the act of putting crossed or stamped papers in ballot boxes are the institutions – usually parties – that nominate candidates for election. Just as important as the parties are the officials – civil servants, judges or ombudsmen – whose responsibility it is to ensure that the elections are fair. And then it matters hugely how the legislature itself actually operates.”
Civilisation, the great degeneration – Niall Ferguson
Ironically enough, Beppe Grillo did extremely well in Sicily. His movement is in charge of the island now.
Moviment ifisser li tista tahdem maghna anki jekk ma tkunx maghna, Biss jekk issa qed tahdem maghna qis li ma tmurx titkellem kontrina. Bhala moviment nilqghu l-kullhadd izda naghmlu li irridu ahna. Il-moviment jiehu dawk il-passi mehtiega biex naghlqu halq dawk li jikkritikaw il-moviment.
M’ghandniex bzonn aktar partiti ghax issa ghandna moviment wiehed.
Moviment allura jfisser ditatorjat modern?
He’s going down in the polls. 4% points in a week.
Following last week’s maneouvres, Crimi, his spokesman for the senate just expressed doubts about Grillo’s delusionary tactics. The same Crimi however, has become a bit of a joke, denying every statement he makes after ‘consultation’ behind closed doors.
Grillo’s limited by the absence of a party and a structured process. Basically the blog’s outdone itself, internal dissent is growing and labelling these as trolls is causing havoc. It’s paranoia with people insisting on a separate ‘website’.
Following Bersani’s ridiculous exercise to get Grillo to reason, Napolitano decided to appoint two commissions to produce a draft program of works to be undertaken by the other parties.
Basically the president isolated Grillo, diluting him of support by taking up a considerable part of his manifesto for execution.
The discussion now is whether the movement should subscribe to the nation and adopt a staunch opposition or to itself. The bluff to default however seems to have scared Angela Merkel, a unanimous vote to release 90 billion in arrears to SME’s was taken yesterday, following the ECB’s go ahead.
Companies were declaring bankruptcy on credit.
But then, in Italy one is obliged to pay Irpef, a tax on employees, notwithstanding making a loss. Even if the debtor is the state itself.
Then there’s the IMU, a property tax enforced even on those companies whose warehouses were either flooded or demolished due earthquakes.
Grillo just got endorsed by Marie Le Pen. Hopefully, he won’t fall for it. The dilemma however is clear, muting the movement can remove the pressure to change the above.
The target ultimately, is Brussels itself.
Well Joey definitely has his chin and the same way of holding himself as well as being both short and plump .
He also needs to improve on his posture.
Malta taghna lkoll Prime Minister slouches in his chair with his legs in an awkward position, as has been seen during various interviews on television.
I believe this analysis is wrong. As many stated in the comments below the article on Grillo, such comparisons are ridiculous. A UK author would probably not be very versed in Italian politics.
Many Italians wanted change and voted for a different type of political group from the traditional parties. Grillo wants to reduce allowances given to politicians. He thus wants to reduce the old system where politicans try their best to milk the system. In a democracy we must respect the decision of the electorate. We can on the other hand abolish elections and so there is no fascist threat.
I get a whiff of Imperium Europa off you, David.
The time for politicals parties is indeed over. Tthe established political parties will eventually lose their influence and power over the citizens because of the internet.
if you read some of Grillo’s books or listen to his speeches that’s what he’s talking about.
The internet is destroying well established businesses: the airline industry, travel agencies, blockbusters, the music industry, retail, tv productions, advertising agencies, printed media…now it’s time that politics get the hit too.
The only problem with Muscat’s words is that he’s actually leading a political party and not a movement.
The ‘movement’ was only a brand to attract PN voters that perhaps may have finding it difficult to vote Labour. The plan worked just fine, because many people are too stupid to realize that they still voted for a political party called Partit Laburista.
The similarity is bewildering
No. Comparing Beppe Grillo to Mussoloni is wrong on all counts but mainly because the two lived in different eras.
Mussolini did not have the internet. Mussolini came after two world wars.
Beppe Grillo is the result of rampant corruption in Italy.
Grillo’s votes were protest votes because Italy is on its knees thanks to years of corruption (all parties) and Mario Monti and his team who failed miserably on all counts.
Beppe Grillo became necessary to break the pattern, to make politicians aware that they were being watched.
As an example, thanks to the Grillini we are not lumped with an idiot like Franceschini as leader of the House. Beppe Grillo will disappear in a couple of years, he knows it and accepts it.
Farrell from The Spectator does not know what he’s talking about – he obviously does not pay tax nor face businesses closing every day in their hundreds.
Joseph Muscat is yet another kettle of fish. Muscat is thriving on a brilliant marketing exercise and on the weaknesses of the Nationalist Party, which is on self-destruct mode.
Ahem. Mussolini after TWO world wars?