This is a pretty straightforward explanation for why Italian politics looks like a total muddle to me, and why I am frequently accused by fellow members of the Italian expat (and not) community of being a hypocrite because I criticize every candidate's position as inappropriate for the country but will end up voting anyway.
Yes I do vote, I do not waste my ballot. And No, I do not choose the least worst candidate, nor do I vote a party "to keep the other guy out".
The "Politometro" gives 15 statements which I can totally/partially agree/disagree with or be neutral. The statements span topics such as research freedom, abortion, in-vitro fertilization, trade unions, civil partnerships, school vouchers, nuclear energy, returning to Iraq, deregulation, minimum wage, flat tax, etc. If my fiscal conservative - social libertarian mix is anything to go by, no major PM candidate in Italy is the right choice for me.
So it should come as no surprise to anyone that my vote (in the foreign North America constituency) went not to a candidate representing the party closest to my views but to the person I judged most suitable (based on total lack of information or campaigning save by Berlusconi's party) to represent expat views in the national parliament: both the youngest and only foreign-born Italian in the candidate list. Incidentally, a woman too. I wish her success.
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