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  • President Obama nominated John R. Phillips as the new US Ambassador in Rome. His grandparents were Italians who emigrated to the United States. Their name was "Filippi," which then became "Phillips." Phillips will substitute David Thorne, who was in charge for four years.
  • Local administrative elections this past Sunday and Monday in Rome and other key cities throughout Italy caught observers by surprise. The turnout was 20% lower than the last round five years ago, as nearly half those entitled to vote in the cities, which included Rome, Ferrara and Siena, stayed home or abstained. Whereas the left-leaning Partito Democratico (PD) made a surprisingly good showing. Berlusconi's Partito della Liberta' (PdL) slumped behind the PD, and Beppe Grillo's Movimento Cinque Stelle (M5S, or Five-Star Movement) just dropped a few stars. For them, no one had predicted a debacle on this level.
  • Despite a generalized sigh of relief, concerns remain that this year's Italian political debacle is not yet over. The newly re-elected President Giorgio Napolitano, 87, speaking with breaking voice, warned of the risks the country continues to run. In his address to the Parliament after his swearing in Monday, he called for talks to begin immediately for creation of a new government following two months of impasse since a national general election brought three warring parties into what could become a "fatal deadlock," in Napolitano's words. Implicitly warning that new elections will be the result of failed negotiations for a new government, he also admonished the political leaders of the risk of "ungovernability, at least for this legislature." The concerns go beyond Italy itself. As European leaders point out, a politically and economically weak Italy is of generalized concern because unable to act as a counterpoise within Europe to German power. Negotiations began Tuesday.
  • President Giorgio Napolitano has asked ten "sages" to elaborate a list of crucial issues around which the politicians should rally. But whatever they decide, it is a safe bet that Italy's magnificent cultural heritage will not be on their list. UNESCO considers the Italian cultural heritage the world's greatest single assemblage. And yet, as a new Eurostat report shows, Italian expenditures on maintaining that heritage amount to a mere 1.1% of its GNP as compared with the 2.2 average for the rest of Europe. This places Italy at the very bottom of the list of those European states protecting, and investing in, their cultural heritage. Archaeologist Salvatore Settis is the foremost authority protesting this.
  • The famous Ides of March of ancient Rome fell on March 15, the day when the tyrannical Julius Caesar was assassinated in the building where the Senate was meeting. His assassin was Brutus, acting on behalf of a group of conspirators known as the "Liberators." By coincidence, Italy's neo-deputies and senators take their seats in Parliament and the Senate on that very day. Among them, the largest single political party - 109 members of the Chamber of Deputies (25.5%) and 50 Senators (23% ) - is led by Beppe Grillo, whose weapon of choice in trying to liberate the system from itself is rhetoric.
  • New York City and Italy have a great deal in common, starting and ending with self-destructive electorates; voters who are intent on putting into office people who, in one way or another, hold them in contempt. In both democracies, The People are generally too ignorant and self-absorbed to notice that the pain they feel is self-inflicted. How does this happen?
  • Good grief, the Italian national general elections are only two weeks away, and things are happening so thick and fast that the only way to keep up is with a daily diary of the goings-on.
  • Graziani was notorious as Benito Mussolini's military commander in colonial wars in Ethiopia and Libya where he carried out massacres. Recently in Rome was honoured with a mausoleum and memorial park. January 31 at 6:30 pm (John D. Calandra Italian American Institute - 25 West 43rd Street, 17th fl.) a roundtable - free and open to the public - will discuss Graziani's role under fascism, rehabilitation attempts of Fascist war leaders in Italy and public opposition to this political trend. With Lidia Santarelli (Brown University), Yemane Demissie (New York University). Moderator: Andrea Fiano (journalist and former Chairman of CPL). Respondent: Girma Abebe, Former Counselor, (Ethiopian Delegation to the UN).
  • "Your identity, your attachment to Italy, which already manifests itself in various forms and activities, finds its greatest expression through electoral participation for the renewal of the Italian parliament. Seizing this occasion is the best way to make your voices heard adequately and to enrich the public debate and pluralism. Each one of your votes will contribute in this way to Italy’s progress."
  • Among the several promotional events on Torino that have taken place in New York during the month of December, the Italian Trade Commission hosted a seminar called "Why Invest in Torino Piemonte, the intelligent location for your business." International guests have spoken about the importance of the capital of Piemonte, its contribution to the world's economy and the possibilities for foreign investors

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