Italy: A Calm in Its Politics

     So, Italy.  Things have been interesting since the elections a little over 2 months ago.  New parties advanced;  old parties did some back sliding.   Young politicians appeared in the bright lights for the first time, awed by exposure, challenged by popularity, embarrassed by intense media interest, and unsettled by a look at the future of a country seeking a way forward from past turbulence and a depressed economy.  The country, like many in Europe, suffered deeply during the global recession, with unemployment reaching 20+% among most eligible workers.
      The Mayor has just returned from Italy, spending a month on the road, driving across Sicily, and Calabria, visiting small towns to investigate how these towns have fought to preserve an existence when odds are against them.  What I first noticed was the change in appearances common to many.  Municipal buildings shines with new plaster, new paint, re-pointed masonry, new signage, and pleasing new additions.   How did this happen?  The answer:  the EU membership.  The EU, among other things, has earmarked funds for cultural restoration throughout the member states in an attempt to preserve iconic buildings that are spread over the landscape, dating to Medieval times in many cases.  As an example, my party visited the mountain top city of Bova, on the far south coast of Italy in Calabria.  This town, formerly with over 2000 residents(now 400), received funding to restore several civic buildings, a Roman era fortress married to a Norman castle, perched on the summit in the town's center.  A prominent sign marks this as one of the EU targeted structures.  This was to be repeated in numerous towns and cities across this part of Italy.
more later