The unbearable lightness of Italy

The parliamentary elections in Italy on February 24-25 were called by the press "the most" unpredictable in the history of democracy"

The Italians did not just put crosses on the ballots - it depended on their choice what it would be like for them to continue to carry the cross of the economic and social crisis. Until now, Mario Monti, a clever and technocrat, a favorite of Brussels, “a man of fate,” as he was called in the American White House, who diligently and consistently pulled Italy out of the budget hole, into which she landed largely through the fault of his predecessor Silvio Berlusconi . And suddenly Monty loses miserably, gaining only 10% of electoral sympathies. And Cavaliere (Berlusconi's nickname - The New Times) is back on horseback - his right-wing coalition won 29.1% in the House of Representatives and 30.7% in the Senate. The centre-left coalition of Pier Luigi Bersani has approximately the same results - 29.5% and 31.6%. But the main winner, as well as the main mystery of the elections, is considered to be Beppe Grillo, who emerged from non-existence, who scored 25.5% in the lower house and 23.8% in the Senate.

Why did clever Monti fail to finally withdraw Berlusconi from politics? Why did the unknown Grillo perform so well? What kind of a nation is the Italians, if they allow themselves to be impromptu at such a crucial historical moment? After all, it turns out that no one won the majority of votes - how and by whom Italy will be governed is unknown.

Beppe Grillo does not have his own party, his people's organization called "Movement 5 Stars" was born three years ago, proclaiming "anti-politics" as its main ideal. Beppe Grillo is a cross between a pop star and a religious leader. Like a crazy caudillo, he never tires of talking about the environment and the corrupt Italian elite, promising to turn Italy upside down.

Some voters said they only voted for Grillo to "teach a lesson" to professional politicians. Or - because "the politicians are all the same, but Grillo is new and different." This is true. Under his wing, the actor brought together the extreme right and the extreme left, and the politicized Italians, and the politically passive, mesmerized by his charisma in the streets and squares that Grillo filled step by step, email after email, tweet after tweet. Grillo has no office, and no manifesto. All of his "5 stars" are virtual, as is his blog. Even television turned out to be too “real” for Grillo: not a single journalist was able to interview him. He won only thanks to the Internet - this is what primarily distinguished him from Berlusconi, who constantly appeared in the media.

The February elections in Italy are a death knell for the old European political class, where boring lawyers alternated in the lead roles with wizened economists and smug businessmen. In crisis Europe, success is now forged in a new way - not vertically, but horizontally, with the help of fundamentally new technologies, where money and influence cease to play a key role. Tired of everything people want something easier. The shadow of Grillo will very soon cross the borders of Italy and will go on a victorious march through the cities and villages.