Four Albanians run in Italy today

Today, nearly 50 million Italians rightly elect the new parliament. Polls envision victory by populist parties, but neither party appears to reach clear majority. Four Albanians, Bruna Mece, Emiliano Biraku, Anita Likmeta, Elona Gage, run in these elections.

But where is Italy going?

According to survey institutes' data, Italy stands ahead of a major popular victory, both left and right. The strongest party could emerge „Five Stars Movement”, a left-oriented party formed as a protest party nine years ago by comedian Beppe Grillo and currently run by 31-year-old Luigi di Maio. The movement rises against the old political elite and promises a social policy. It is sceptical of the EU and critical of refugee accession to Italy. In conversation with the DW, Luig di Maio said that „besson will become the main political force and that he will create the government”. According to him, other countries in Europe must discern that the real danger comes from Le Pen and the Alternative to Germany. We fight against Salvin and Lega Nord. ”

Luigi di Maio

With that the leader of the movement takes into account the leader of Lega Nord, the right-wing populist party, Matteo Salvin, his main opponent. Salvin comes up in these elections with the motto „Italia instead of” and has formed an alliance with „Forza Italy” of Silvio Berlusconi and neosists of „Italian Brothers”. The right-wing populist forces jump into the polls, with a result of 38% in the new parliament, but they do not reach the absolute majority as well. The smallest camp is the Social Democrats' camp, which forecasts produce with only 22% of the vote.

No Coalitions Forecast

All three political camps have ruled out coalitions. Enigma for Italian voters remains how the new government can be created under these conditions. The very complicated Italian election law does not offer much help at this point, says Italy's connoisseur Lutz Klinkhammer, director of the German History Institute in Rome in conversation with DW. The „political forces will most likely block each other in parliament”, he says. The „could happen to have a technical government that will soon try to pass an election law in parliament to call again new elections. ”

Social Democrat Matteo Renzi

The president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, warned that we must prepare for the worst „kener”, that is, a parliament unable to act. Juncker's statements raised the costs of refinance of Italian state bonds. Markets are nervous and the system is not stabilised because the Italian economy grows very slowly. The banking sector is also very fragile.

Many were debated in the campaign on how to lower state debt by 130% of gross domestic production. Economics Professor Ruggero Bertelli of the University of Sienas says the „all promise, but nobody has a prescription. ”

The Resurrection of Silvio Berluscone

For former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, 81, these elections could be his return to politics. Although he is not allowed to take office, because he is convicted of tax fraud, Berlusconi is the one who moves the strings to the right list, which is run by „Forza Italy”. All past scandals have not apparently ruined Berluscone. „Government parties and some institutions have attacked me with mispronounced and claims. But people know, that the words about bunga-bunga, all were lies, which were invented by interested parties to eliminate political opponent”, Berlusconi said in an interview.

Matteo Salvin of Lega Nord

The role of the laughing victim seems to touch the Italians eternally. His party accounts for 16% in polls. Berlusconi is convinced that the future government will lead a elected prime minister. It promises tax relief and conditions for youth employment, but does not say how it will finance this plan.

The mayor of Palermo takes a critical view of raising populists both left and right. Leuluca Orlando says Sunday's elections will be decided in southern Italy. His party „The Value Party” has little chance, he says in conversation with DW. I think that populists are vulnerable to a risk I call the mobafia. Populists do not know government and may be negatively affected.” He does not say Berlusconi is a mobster, but that the political climate is changing.

Italy will not sink into chaos after elections, the economy will not collapse unexpectedly. But problems remain long-term and medium-term. It's about investments, it's about what the new generation has no perspective, so many abandon the country, especially the qualified.” On Sunday the polls close at 11:00, but the distribution of seats in parliament becomes clear only Monday morning. DW