LA CIVETTA December 2019 | Page 37

Amy Alcock

"55% of Italians think racist acts are sometimes or always acceptable."

(SWG)

Success for the right-wing candidate Donatella Tesei in the regional election in Umbria on the 27th October has emphasised the diminishing authority of the left wing in Italy; Umbria was considered a left wing stronghold for 50 years previously. Supported by the League, Brothers of Italy, and Forza Italia, Tesei won almost 60% of the vote, a big defeat over the M5S and PD candidate Vicenzo Bianconi, who won only 38% of the vote.

politica

politica

Umbria Elections

Another worrying issue around the rise in popularity of the right wing in Italy is the increase in racism and tolerance for it; according to a survey by polling firm SWG in early November, 55% of Italians think racist acts are sometimes or always acceptable. The increase in anti-foreign sentiment is a common theme throughout Europe and this is just as much of a problem in Italy, with the parties Brothers of Italy and Forza Italia increasingly focussing on the immediate concerns of Italians rather than any other communities.

Image: Flickr