Thus Der Spiegel today. “New Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi is a neophyte on the national stage,” explains the newspaper. “But he has lofty ambitions nonetheless. A look back at his time as the mayor of Florence provides a glimpse of how he might run Italy.” The article is actually about Fabio Picchi, a celebrity chef from Florence, who met the young Catholic (sic) politician in the Nineties. Picchi has cooked not only for Renzi, but for Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, and Gerhard Schröder, as well. In short, the chef is in the know, and he promises many wonderful things in the near future. And so on, and so forth. I wish the new Italian prime minister and the chef who is his friend and confidante all the best, but radical reform is not possible in Italy. For better or worse, not even a chef can make it happen any longer. The best Italy can hope for at this juncture is a prime minister who does not promise radical reform. That would be a politician well worth watching. As well as admiring as he plods along without a word too many.

Addendum (October 7, 2014)

“Italy’s Failed Economic Turnaround,” blares the title of an article in the very same newspaper today. “Ever since Matteo Renzi became Italy’s new prime minister, officials in Berlin and Brussels have had newfound belief that Italy’s deep-seated economic problems are being tackled,” runs the byline. “But that won’t happen until the country stops deceiving itself.” How true. And with the help of Der Spiegel, among other newspapers. As I argued seven months ago, bravado will not do in Italy any longer. After so many years of relentless bungling, clear vision and quiet perseverance would be the only remedies worth talking about. Alas, miracles are only miracles even in Italy!