• Contact
  • About
  • Authors
DONATE TO BYLINES SCOTLAND
NEWSLETTER SIGN UP
  • Login
Bylines Scotland
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Bylines Scotland Breaking News
    • Europe
    • King Charles III
    • Queen Elizabeth II
    • Scotland
    • War in Ukraine
    • World
    Go Dharmic charity with Martin Dover

    Putting compassion into action – Coronation Champion Award winner Martin Dover leads the way.

    Police Investigation

    There’s been a murder

    Heart of NHS

    Back to the future

    Women health inequalities represented by a heart and a cardiogram

    Women’s Health in Scotland: challenges and progress

    Oil in Scotland

    Oil, Margaret Thatcher and Dinnae Mess Wi Us

    Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh

    Scotland’s Road to Devolution

    Poverty in Scotland

    Poverty in Scotland 2022

    NHS Scotland

    A Healthcare System that delivers for people?

    Scottish political calls

    Liberté, égalité, fraternité

    Trending Tags

    • Democracy
    • Devolution
    • Brexit
    • Ukraine
  • Politics
    • All
    • Council Areas
    • Europe
    • Holyrood
    • Liz Truss
    • Rest of UK
    • Tories
    • United Kingdom
    • Westminster
    • World
    UK voting system First-past-the-post

    Why is the UK still locked into an obsolete political system?

    Scottish Parliament Party seats

    People like to back the winning side.

    Post Election Blues

    Post-election blues

    Labour Anas Sarwar cartoon

    The challenge for Labour in Scotland

    Hard Labour

    Hard Labour

    Edinburgh Military Tattoo mixed with EU symbol

    Great visionaries brought us two great institutions that made life better for Scots and Scotland

    Westminster Government

    Regimes are at their most dangerous in their death throes 

    Rupert Murdoch portrait

    Why Rupert Murdoch should support Scotland’s independence.

    Demonstrator on the streets of London

    Eggs, black shirts and unsettled Britain

    Trending Tags

    • Equality
    • Johnson
    • Scottish National Party
  • Business
    • All
    • Agriculture
    • Aviation
    • Corporations
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Fishing
    • Natural Resources
    • Shipbuilding
    • Trade
    • Transport
    • Workers
    A crane in a port

    Forth and Clyde Drowned by the Thames and Mersey

    Scotland's green Freeport's

    Green freeports – gateway to sustainability or greenwashing with a tax avoidance cherry?

    Salmon covered by sea lice

    Anyone for sea lice risotto?

    Bakkafrost Barge

    The Story of the Bakkafrost Barge Sinking

    Fish farm in Scotland

    A deeper dive into the history of Scottish fish farming

    Fish farms in a Scottish Loch

    How farmed salmon is produced – stage one

    Dead salmons

    Death in our waters

    Fish farming, Isle of Sky, Loch Ainort

    Fish Farming in Scotland 

    Offshore wind farm

    How will local communities get a fair share of record investment from offshore wind farms?

    Trending Tags

    • Health
      • All
      • Assisted dying
      • Covid
      • Influenza
      • Polio virus
      • Respiratory
      • Scientific Research
      Illustration of an antibiotic running away from bacteria depicting antibiotic resistance

      Antibiotic resistance – a major global public health threat

      Slogan Still Home from Clinically Vulnerable Families group

      Covid-19 lockdown continues for many in the UK

      Tree representing lungs

      Where are the areas in Scotland most affected by lung conditions?

      Health service

      Funding the Scottish Health Service 

      A goose surrounded by avian flu

      Who is knocking our doors? A putative new pandemic?

      A woman walking in a field with a jerrycan of water on her back, spraying water on the vegetation

      The Ethiopia Medical Project

      Healthcare word seen in a scrabble

      “Leave no one behind” – the Health Foundation’s report into health inequalities in Scotland 2023.

      Sign saying NHS Greater Galsgow & Clyde in front of a hospital building

      Concern over patients waiting in corridors for free beds at Glasgow Superhospital

      A hospital corridor with trolleys on the sides.

      Glasgow hospitals halt non-urgent operations due to pressure

      Trending Tags

      • Environment
        • All
        • Air Pollution
        • Biology
        • Climate Change
        • Wildfires
        Balblair substation

        Desecrating the glens: the relentless march of the industrial triffids

        Salmon covered by sea lice

        Anyone for sea lice risotto?

        Diagram representing circular economy

        Local Authorities, communities and the circular economy

        Bakkafrost Barge

        The Story of the Bakkafrost Barge Sinking

        Fish farm in Scotland

        A deeper dive into the history of Scottish fish farming

        Fish farms in a Scottish Loch

        How farmed salmon is produced – stage one

        Dead salmons

        Death in our waters

        Fish farming, Isle of Sky, Loch Ainort

        Fish Farming in Scotland 

        Ardnish wildfire by Leslie Barrie, CC BY-SA 2.0 Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons'

        Fire threats in the Scottish countryside

        Trending Tags

        • Opinion
        No Result
        View All Result
        • Home
        • News
          • All
          • Bylines Scotland Breaking News
          • Europe
          • King Charles III
          • Queen Elizabeth II
          • Scotland
          • War in Ukraine
          • World
          Go Dharmic charity with Martin Dover

          Putting compassion into action – Coronation Champion Award winner Martin Dover leads the way.

          Police Investigation

          There’s been a murder

          Heart of NHS

          Back to the future

          Women health inequalities represented by a heart and a cardiogram

          Women’s Health in Scotland: challenges and progress

          Oil in Scotland

          Oil, Margaret Thatcher and Dinnae Mess Wi Us

          Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh

          Scotland’s Road to Devolution

          Poverty in Scotland

          Poverty in Scotland 2022

          NHS Scotland

          A Healthcare System that delivers for people?

          Scottish political calls

          Liberté, égalité, fraternité

          Trending Tags

          • Democracy
          • Devolution
          • Brexit
          • Ukraine
        • Politics
          • All
          • Council Areas
          • Europe
          • Holyrood
          • Liz Truss
          • Rest of UK
          • Tories
          • United Kingdom
          • Westminster
          • World
          UK voting system First-past-the-post

          Why is the UK still locked into an obsolete political system?

          Scottish Parliament Party seats

          People like to back the winning side.

          Post Election Blues

          Post-election blues

          Labour Anas Sarwar cartoon

          The challenge for Labour in Scotland

          Hard Labour

          Hard Labour

          Edinburgh Military Tattoo mixed with EU symbol

          Great visionaries brought us two great institutions that made life better for Scots and Scotland

          Westminster Government

          Regimes are at their most dangerous in their death throes 

          Rupert Murdoch portrait

          Why Rupert Murdoch should support Scotland’s independence.

          Demonstrator on the streets of London

          Eggs, black shirts and unsettled Britain

          Trending Tags

          • Equality
          • Johnson
          • Scottish National Party
        • Business
          • All
          • Agriculture
          • Aviation
          • Corporations
          • Energy
          • Finance
          • Fishing
          • Natural Resources
          • Shipbuilding
          • Trade
          • Transport
          • Workers
          A crane in a port

          Forth and Clyde Drowned by the Thames and Mersey

          Scotland's green Freeport's

          Green freeports – gateway to sustainability or greenwashing with a tax avoidance cherry?

          Salmon covered by sea lice

          Anyone for sea lice risotto?

          Bakkafrost Barge

          The Story of the Bakkafrost Barge Sinking

          Fish farm in Scotland

          A deeper dive into the history of Scottish fish farming

          Fish farms in a Scottish Loch

          How farmed salmon is produced – stage one

          Dead salmons

          Death in our waters

          Fish farming, Isle of Sky, Loch Ainort

          Fish Farming in Scotland 

          Offshore wind farm

          How will local communities get a fair share of record investment from offshore wind farms?

          Trending Tags

          • Health
            • All
            • Assisted dying
            • Covid
            • Influenza
            • Polio virus
            • Respiratory
            • Scientific Research
            Illustration of an antibiotic running away from bacteria depicting antibiotic resistance

            Antibiotic resistance – a major global public health threat

            Slogan Still Home from Clinically Vulnerable Families group

            Covid-19 lockdown continues for many in the UK

            Tree representing lungs

            Where are the areas in Scotland most affected by lung conditions?

            Health service

            Funding the Scottish Health Service 

            A goose surrounded by avian flu

            Who is knocking our doors? A putative new pandemic?

            A woman walking in a field with a jerrycan of water on her back, spraying water on the vegetation

            The Ethiopia Medical Project

            Healthcare word seen in a scrabble

            “Leave no one behind” – the Health Foundation’s report into health inequalities in Scotland 2023.

            Sign saying NHS Greater Galsgow & Clyde in front of a hospital building

            Concern over patients waiting in corridors for free beds at Glasgow Superhospital

            A hospital corridor with trolleys on the sides.

            Glasgow hospitals halt non-urgent operations due to pressure

            Trending Tags

            • Environment
              • All
              • Air Pollution
              • Biology
              • Climate Change
              • Wildfires
              Balblair substation

              Desecrating the glens: the relentless march of the industrial triffids

              Salmon covered by sea lice

              Anyone for sea lice risotto?

              Diagram representing circular economy

              Local Authorities, communities and the circular economy

              Bakkafrost Barge

              The Story of the Bakkafrost Barge Sinking

              Fish farm in Scotland

              A deeper dive into the history of Scottish fish farming

              Fish farms in a Scottish Loch

              How farmed salmon is produced – stage one

              Dead salmons

              Death in our waters

              Fish farming, Isle of Sky, Loch Ainort

              Fish Farming in Scotland 

              Ardnish wildfire by Leslie Barrie, CC BY-SA 2.0 Creative Commons — Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic — CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons'

              Fire threats in the Scottish countryside

              Trending Tags

              • Opinion
              No Result
              View All Result
              Bylines Scotland
              No Result
              View All Result
              Home Politics Europe

              All votes lead to Rome

              In 1922 Benito Mussolini marched on Rome and installed a Fascist government. In 2022 the Italian electorate may be reinstating a Fascists state

              Tanya Pia StarrettbyTanya Pia Starrett
              25-09-2022 19:20
              in Europe, Italy, Politics
              Election posters for Partito Democratico (Democratic Party) candidates in 2022 Italian election. Photographs courtesy of the author

              Election posters for Partito Democratico (Democratic Party) candidates in 2022 Italian election. Photographs courtesy of the author

              86
              VIEWS
              Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

              [ed] UPDATE to the following article at 8:35am 26 09 2022: Projections from Euronews indicates that Giorgia Meloni, leader of the right wing Brothers of Italy party will capture 26% of the vote, winning the largest majority in both houses of the Italian parliament. The victory will likely see Meloni set to become Italy’s first female prime minister. The Brothers of Italy‘s right wing partners, who are expected to join a Meloni coalition, saw their vote collapse to below 10% each. The election is projected to be the lowest turnout in Italy’s post-war history.

              A bad omen of storms and heavy rain greeted Italy’s polling day, 25 September. Undeterred, my Scottish husband was excited and looking forward to his first vote in an Italian Election since recently being granted citizenship.

              As well as an identity card, a voter’s card (tessera elettorale) is required, which is stamped every time you vote. Without these two documents you cannot vote. Italians are used to presenting these documents. This level of security is for historic reasons. It may seem strange to UK eyes, but electoral fraud by organised crime in the southern regions of Italy and Sicily was once endemic. Personally, we like having voting cards stamped as evidence of the date you voted. But that’s just us political geeks.

              Reducing the number of seats in both houses of parliament. Only in Italy!

              Italy’s electoral system is a mix of – roughly – a third of seats by first-past-the-post and two-thirds by proportional representation. Italians receive two votes across two ballot papers, one for each house of parliament: yellow for the Senate (upper house: Senato), and pink for the Chamber of Deputies (lower house: Camera dei Deputati). Both houses have the same powers. This will be the first election since the constitutional referendum in 2020, which reduced the number of deputies to 400 from 630 and the number of senators from 315 to 200.

              Neo-fascists may march into Rome and seize power just like they did in 1922

              Although there has been a polling blackout since 10 September it appears likely a right-wing coalition (coalizione di centrodestra) will take power, headed by Giorgia Meloni, leader of the Brothers of Italy party. She will form a coalition with Matteo Salvini’s Lega and Forza Italia, headed by political veteran Silvio Berlusconi, 85. The Brothers of Italy have neo-fascist roots, and respected Italian political commentator Professor Andrea Mammone has suggested that “they think very favourably of Mussolini, so much so in fact, that two of their members are direct descendants of him.”

              The main ‘goody’ Meloni offers the voters is the introduction of a 15% flat tax rate for citizens. There are doubts about this policy initiative, so it is more likely that there will be small changes to the tax system for the most vulnerable, but very little else will likely change. The centre-left on the other hand supports progressive taxation.

              Perhaps more of a surprise is the Brothers of Italy’s ‘leftist’ economic perspective. John Hooper, journalist for the Economist, explained the Brothers are “in favour of state intervention and renationalisation of strategic industries.” Another major concern is the EU post-Covid 19 recovery fund, of which Italy received the largest share in the EU. The democratic left support it, while the Brothers of Italy want to reform it. This is unlikely to happen, however, as many large-scale projects are already under way.

              A woman gaining power does not necessarily mean she’s a feminist

              Strategically, of course, the Brothers of Italy’s current manifesto does not have any overt mention of fascism, and it has toned down some of its social conservatism concerns in favour of economic ones. This toning down of controversial beliefs is a classic political tool. It could be argued that Meloni may well have to be pragmatic when in power but, depending on the size of the majority, she and her coalition partners may also unleash what they truly believe in, which remains to be seen.

              There has been much discussion on Meloni’s stance on anti-abortion, anti-LGBTIQ+, and even women’s rights. If Meloni is successful, she will be Italy’s first female Prime Minister. As Italian journalist Giulia Siviero pointed out in openDemocracy, “Arguing that a woman – any woman – [winning power] is a conquest for all women and for feminism is very sexist to me, because it puts the sex before the person and her beliefs or policies.”

              Meloni and her party will certainly not advance Italy’s already limited women’s rights and indeed will actively reduce them. In fact, Meloni takes the ‘traditional womanhood’ view, which promotes the family – preferably large families – to help reverse Italy’s low birth rate. It could be argued that Meloni’s policy of promoting the ‘family’ is a distraction that has an easier policy solution than trying to solve what the right see as a migrant ‘problem’.

              The Middlesex Guildhall, home of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Photograph by Tom Norris under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 license
              Holyrood

              Battle for Scotland’s soul begins when UK Supreme Court rules on IndyRef 2

              byMartin Roche
              15 September 2022

              Fractured opposition in the face of defeat at the hands of the neo-fascists

              The main centre-left opposition is headed by the Democratic Party PD, Partito Democratico, led by Enrico Letta, a professor and former Prime Minister (2013-2014). As one would expect, the party is generally moderate and takes a pro-European stance. It is vehemently opposed to Putin and the war in Ukraine and openly supports LGBTIQ+ rights. Unfortunately, the PD could not reach an agreement with enough centre-left parties to form what some may call an ‘anti-fascist’ left-wing bloc. This begs the question for all of us of a left-leaning persuasion: is it more a loss for the centre-left than a win for the far right? It’s obviously too late now for any change in this election cycle. Nevertheless, it certainly is an essential debate the left here in Italy needs to have if they seriously want to be in government again.

              Everyday issues in Italy are similar to those in Scotland and the rest of the UK. The energy and cost of living crisis and the ongoing war in Ukraine are top of everyone’s minds. Meloni and her coalition are calling for more nuclear power and energy self-sufficiency. The Brothers of Italy are also pro-NATO and supportive of sanctions against Russia. The PD (centre-left) is calling for a price cap on bills.

              Che sarà sarà? What will be, will be

              The EU will probably ‘wait and see’ how Meloni governs. There may be a reluctance to do anything in the short to medium term, as witnessed in Hungary. Here Victor Orban’s government were able to enact a raft of illiberal laws before the EU decided to take action and threaten to impose sanctions.

              There has been much apathy in Italy, with many choosing not to vote. Italians are very philosophical about politics. The consensus seems to suggest that if and when Meloni and the far right bloc gain power and have to actually govern, this is when they will begin to fracture and lose power. While the right-wing coalition has much in common there are some key policy differences that will likely put an early strain on the coalition. While Meloni is very supportive of sanctions against Putin and Russia, her coalition partners Salvini and Berlusconi are not. Infighting is inevitable and the smart money is already suggesting the coalition may not last 6 months. The current prime minister, Mario Draghi, who lives in our small town of Città Della Pieve , has probably been told by independent President Mattarella – the person who invites leaders to form a government – to be on standby.

              After a morning coffee, a Scots closing perspective

              My husband was always going to vote PD and so he did this morning for both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. His own view is that there has been a slightly hysterical reaction to a likely far right coalition victory, particularly from abroad. As is the case in most European countries, moderate and left-leaning progressives are in the majority in Italy. Unfortunately, political egos and personalities on the left meant that a super left bloc could not be formed to fight this election. If it had it would have likely won. A number of the smaller left-leaning parties are now unlikely to make the voter threshold to gain seats.

              How right Italy is likely to go is more shades of grey than black and white. While Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy do have despicable fascist roots, their policy platform seems to be socially conservative yet economically interventionist. Moreover, the political egos of the left are mirrored on the right and this, coupled with major policy differences on Ukraine and Italy’s relationship with Russia, is likely to ensure that any right-wing coalition may not survive for too long.


              We need your help! The press in our country is dominated by billionaire-owned media, many offshore and avoiding paying tax. We are a citizen journalism publication but still have significant costs. If you believe in what we do, please consider subscribing to the Bylines Gazette 🙏

              Tags: electionfascistsItalyMarch on Rome 1922Mussolini
              Previous Post

              Rosyth-based shipbuilding firm secures design contract with Poland

              Next Post

              Sixteen things under threat from Liz Truss’s new government

              Tanya Pia Starrett

              Tanya Pia Starrett

              Tanya Pia Starrett is a former Scottish solicitor living in Italy, born into a Glasgow Italian family. A graduate of both Glasgow and Edinburgh University, with a bachelor of law (LLB) and a masters of arts in archaeology and European medieval history. A teacher of English for more than ten years, she enjoys writing, campaigning and is an Italian national ambassador for Europe for Scotland. Interests are the arts, history and politics.

              Related Posts

              UK voting system First-past-the-post
              Democracy

              Why is the UK still locked into an obsolete political system?

              byBylines Scotland
              27 May 2023
              Scottish Parliament Party seats
              Politics

              People like to back the winning side.

              byMartin Roche
              17 May 2023
              Post Election Blues
              Council Areas

              Post-election blues

              byPeter Cook
              9 May 2023
              Labour Anas Sarwar cartoon
              Democracy

              The challenge for Labour in Scotland

              byRichard Haviland
              25 April 2023
              Hard Labour
              Politics

              Hard Labour

              byPeter Cook
              23 April 2023
              Next Post
              Prime Minister Liz Truss in front of a Union Jack

              Sixteen things under threat from Liz Truss’s new government

              PLEASE SUPPORT OUR CROWDFUNDER

              Subscribe to our newsletters
              CHOOSE YOUR NEWS
              Follow us on social media
              CHOOSE YOUR PLATFORMS
              Download our app
              ALL OF BYLINES IN ONE PLACE
              Subscribe to our gazette
              CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SUSTAINABILITY
              Make a monthly or one-off donation
              DONATE NOW
              Help us with our hosting costs
              SIGN UP TO SITEGROUND
              We are always looking for citizen journalists
              WRITE FOR US
              Volunteer as an editor, in a technical role, or on social media
              VOLUNTEER FOR US
              Something else?
              GET IN TOUCH
              Previous slide
              Next slide

              LATEST

              Go Dharmic charity with Martin Dover

              Putting compassion into action – Coronation Champion Award winner Martin Dover leads the way.

              28 May 2023
              UK voting system First-past-the-post

              Why is the UK still locked into an obsolete political system?

              27 May 2023
              Police Investigation

              There’s been a murder

              26 May 2023
              Brexit impact illustration

              Brexit Stock Take

              24 May 2023

              MOST READ

              UK voting system First-past-the-post

              Why is the UK still locked into an obsolete political system?

              27 May 2023
              Brexit impact illustration

              Brexit Stock Take

              24 May 2023
              King Charles Coronation and the United Kingdom Flag

              Coronation Chickens … coming home to roost

              29 April 2023
              Police Investigation

              There’s been a murder

              26 May 2023

              BROWSE BY TAGS

              Brexit Christmas ClimateChange Covid Covid19 Culture Defence Democracy Devolution election FishFarms Glasgow Halloween health History Holyrood independence IndyRef2 Johnson Journalism Labour LGBT+ Liz Truss Monarchy NATO NHS Nicola Sturgeon politics Poverty Pro-EU Public Health Putin Russia Sars-CoV-2 Scotland Security and Defence shipbuilding SNP Sunak Tories Tourism Twitter Ukraine UK Supreme Court War in Ukraine
              Bylines Scotland

              We are a not-for-profit citizen journalism publication. Our aim is to publish well-written, fact-based articles and opinion pieces on subjects that are of interest to people in Scotland and beyond.

              Bylines Scotland is a trading brand of Bylines Network Limited, which is a partner organisation to Byline Times.

              Learn more about us

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Network
              • About
              • Authors
              • Contact
              • Donate
              • Privacy

              © 2023 Bylines Scotland. Citizen Journalism | Local & Internationalist

              No Result
              View All Result
              • Home
              • News
                • Scotland
                • World
              • Politics
                • Council Areas
                • Europe
                • Holyrood
                • Rest of UK
                • Westminster
              • Business
                • Fishing
                • Trade
                • Transport
              • Health
              • Environment
                • Climate Change
              • Opinion
              • Donate
              • Newsletter sign up
              CROWDFUNDER

              © 2023 Bylines Scotland. Citizen Journalism | Local & Internationalist

              Welcome Back!

              Login to your account below

              Forgotten Password?

              Retrieve your password

              Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

              Log In