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| Italy votes: 'State only takes from us' | Italy votes: 'State only takes from us' |
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| In past Italian election campaigns, says Ubaldo Villani-Lubelli, the south has been a hot topic. The challenge of how to boost the Mezzogiorno's stagnant economy and close the gap with the centre and north has been something that political leaders have treated, rightly, as an issue key to the future prosperity of Italy. This time, however, it's a bit different. | In past Italian election campaigns, says Ubaldo Villani-Lubelli, the south has been a hot topic. The challenge of how to boost the Mezzogiorno's stagnant economy and close the gap with the centre and north has been something that political leaders have treated, rightly, as an issue key to the future prosperity of Italy. This time, however, it's a bit different. |
| "In this election, the south has been neglected. This is a problem," says the political blogger. "Or," he adds, with a smile, "maybe it's time for us to do something for the south. Because, in Italy, once you've spoken about a problem, you don't resolve the problem. This is the classic dynamic here." | "In this election, the south has been neglected. This is a problem," says the political blogger. "Or," he adds, with a smile, "maybe it's time for us to do something for the south. Because, in Italy, once you've spoken about a problem, you don't resolve the problem. This is the classic dynamic here." |
| Whether that is true or not remains to be seen. But Villani-Lubelli, a researcher at the University of Salento in Lecce, is not alone in noting the absence of the issue from the campaign. | Whether that is true or not remains to be seen. But Villani-Lubelli, a researcher at the University of Salento in Lecce, is not alone in noting the absence of the issue from the campaign. |
| Carlo Trigilia, an economic sociologist, wrote in Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper this month that the question of how to improve matters in the Mezzogiorno was missing from the political debate. But, he added, it was "inescapable" if Italy was serious about reducing its public debt, easing the tax burden and improving public services. | Carlo Trigilia, an economic sociologist, wrote in Il Sole 24 Ore newspaper this month that the question of how to improve matters in the Mezzogiorno was missing from the political debate. But, he added, it was "inescapable" if Italy was serious about reducing its public debt, easing the tax burden and improving public services. |
| While the election campaign may have forgotten the south, the south has not forgotten the campaign. At least, not in Puglia, where many locals are disillusioned about the choice at the ballot box but passionate about the issues facing their local community. | While the election campaign may have forgotten the south, the south has not forgotten the campaign. At least, not in Puglia, where many locals are disillusioned about the choice at the ballot box but passionate about the issues facing their local community. |
| "The governing class in Italy gives many reasons for not going to vote," says Paolo Paticchio, 26, a member of the council in Castrignano dei Greci, a small town about 16 miles south of Lecce. "But there is still this idea that a vote is a sacrosanct right." | "The governing class in Italy gives many reasons for not going to vote," says Paolo Paticchio, 26, a member of the council in Castrignano dei Greci, a small town about 16 miles south of Lecce. "But there is still this idea that a vote is a sacrosanct right." |
| For Paticchio, the generational problem developing in the Mezzogiorno is obvious. "We are the first generation which is certainly not going to have a better future than our parents," he says. | For Paticchio, the generational problem developing in the Mezzogiorno is obvious. "We are the first generation which is certainly not going to have a better future than our parents," he says. |
| Unemployment among the under-25s – high across Italy – is particularly problematic in the south. If young people find work, he says, it is often precarious and badly paid. But often, they cannot. Some get involved with organised crime, he says, although this is not so much a problem in Puglia as elsewhere in the south. Others simply up sticks – either to the north or overseas. "We have seen the return of a phenomenon that was particularly strong in the 60s and 70s – that of emigration," says Paticchio. | Unemployment among the under-25s – high across Italy – is particularly problematic in the south. If young people find work, he says, it is often precarious and badly paid. But often, they cannot. Some get involved with organised crime, he says, although this is not so much a problem in Puglia as elsewhere in the south. Others simply up sticks – either to the north or overseas. "We have seen the return of a phenomenon that was particularly strong in the 60s and 70s – that of emigration," says Paticchio. |
| Maurizio Melito, a 32-year-old youth worker, agrees. "I can see it because if you go, for example, to a small town in the south of Italy – not Lecce because Lecce is a bit different, but say 10km away – the 20-to-35-year-old population doesn't exist at all. There are just old people and children. So sometimes it's very hard for me to organise new activities for young people – because there are none." | Maurizio Melito, a 32-year-old youth worker, agrees. "I can see it because if you go, for example, to a small town in the south of Italy – not Lecce because Lecce is a bit different, but say 10km away – the 20-to-35-year-old population doesn't exist at all. There are just old people and children. So sometimes it's very hard for me to organise new activities for young people – because there are none." |
| Melito is fairly positive when it comes to the impact of regional government: under the current president, Nichi Vendola, he says, Puglia has pursued some policies which he feels have made a real difference. But it is not enough to make him vote – for SEL (Left Ecology Freedom party) leader Vendola or anyone else – in the national elections. "It's not the vote that's going to change the situation," he says. | Melito is fairly positive when it comes to the impact of regional government: under the current president, Nichi Vendola, he says, Puglia has pursued some policies which he feels have made a real difference. But it is not enough to make him vote – for SEL (Left Ecology Freedom party) leader Vendola or anyone else – in the national elections. "It's not the vote that's going to change the situation," he says. |
| Aside from the issues affecting young people in particular, there are plenty of other problems the people of Lecce would like to see fixed by the next government. One is female unemployment, which, as Loredana de Vitis, an artist and journalist says, particularly high in the south. "Where are the policies for creating work for women? They don't exist," she says. | Aside from the issues affecting young people in particular, there are plenty of other problems the people of Lecce would like to see fixed by the next government. One is female unemployment, which, as Loredana de Vitis, an artist and journalist says, particularly high in the south. "Where are the policies for creating work for women? They don't exist," she says. |
| Tax evasion is another. Alberto Milone, 29, says it makes him furious and that he remonstrates with people "all the time" about it. "They say you can get a discount if you don't want a receipt. I say no, give me a receipt. If I pay more you should too. It's a matter of principle for me," he says. Locals also complain of creaking, inadequate infrastructure and poor digital connections. | Tax evasion is another. Alberto Milone, 29, says it makes him furious and that he remonstrates with people "all the time" about it. "They say you can get a discount if you don't want a receipt. I say no, give me a receipt. If I pay more you should too. It's a matter of principle for me," he says. Locals also complain of creaking, inadequate infrastructure and poor digital connections. |
| All this adds up to a picture where, in the words of Milone: "What we see is that the state is only taking from us, not giving us things in return. I think this is especially true for the middle and working class. We only see taxes." | All this adds up to a picture where, in the words of Milone: "What we see is that the state is only taking from us, not giving us things in return. I think this is especially true for the middle and working class. We only see taxes." |
| The Monti government's announcement that it would raise VAT this year was a perfect example, he says, of how "the state doesn't really care" about its citizens. (The announcement was, incidentally, coupled with a tax cut for low-income earners.) "Basically, if you're rich and you can afford it, you get better services. Well," adds Milone, in a telling clarification, "you get services." | The Monti government's announcement that it would raise VAT this year was a perfect example, he says, of how "the state doesn't really care" about its citizens. (The announcement was, incidentally, coupled with a tax cut for low-income earners.) "Basically, if you're rich and you can afford it, you get better services. Well," adds Milone, in a telling clarification, "you get services." |
| • Thank you to everyone who got in touch on my trip. You can contact me on Twitter at @lizzy_davies or by email at lizzy.davies@guardian.co.uk | • Thank you to everyone who got in touch on my trip. You can contact me on Twitter at @lizzy_davies or by email at lizzy.davies@guardian.co.uk |
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