Why is the world watching the impact of the Italian election result so closely?
By
Italy has elected its first far right
government since World War II, with GiorgiaMeloni set to become the country’s
first female Prime Minister when the government legally forms (around
mid-October 2022). Many around the world are watching carefully to see just
what that means for Europe and beyond. But why is this such a big deal?
EU in crisis
One reason is that the EU is currently
facing multiple crises. It is difficult timing, then, for one of its founder
members to elect a Prime Minister who has been very clear in her anti-EU stance
while campaigning. Among other things, GiorgiaMeloni has stated that she is
going to “crash the EU party” – hardly the kind of cooperation that the EU
needs when dealing with matters such as the global energy crisis, the spiraling
cost of living in many countries, Russia’s war in Ukraine, the climate crisis
and the implications of the UK’s departure from the group.
Migration matters
The world is also watching to understand
just how people’s fears over migration can be manipulated. GiorgiaMeloni has
campaigned on an anti-immigration stance, which is worrying from a perspective
of freedom of movement within the EU and for those moving into the bloc. Italians
have the highest
error rate in Europe when it comes to overestimating how many immigrants
are in their country. Survey data shows that respondents believe the proportion
of non- EU immigrants in Italy at 24.6%, while it actually stands at just 7%. GiorgiaMeloni
and colleagues have been able to use this to their advantage during the
election campaign and will no doubt continue to do so going forward.
Democratic dangers
Another key factor that the world is
keeping a close eye on is the implications for democracy. GiorgiaMeloni has
openly admired the example of Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who is
widely recognised as having turned his country from a democracy into an
autocracy. Again, the implications are worrying for Europe and for the rest of
the world, as it watches the slow unravelling of the threads that used to knit
the EU together so firmly.
There is a further lesson here about voter
engagement. Just 63.79% of Italians voted in the 2022 parliamentary election,
with voter turnout
having fallen steadily from 93.9% in 1953 to 63.79% in 2022. Voter apathy
is an issue with which many countries are grappling. Now, it seems, it is
opening the door for the far right.
Watch and wait
Right now, all the world can do is watch
and wait. GiorgiaMeloni’s victory speech was surprisingly conciliatory,
emphasising her desire to lead for all. However, whether ‘all’ means all
Italians or all those who share her anti-EU and anti-immigration remains to be
seen. And that means diving deep into the Italian media – and searching out
those who are using Italian translation services to deliver content that goes beyond
the depth of reporting in the mainstream media.
By using accurate Italian to English translation
to deliver their political blogs and news, outlets within Italy from both sides
of the political spectrum can provide a fuller picture of the impact of the
Italian election result as the situation in their country evolves. What is the
most accurate Italian translator? Well, for these purposes, a combination of
professionals who translate Italian for a living and machine translation tools
would be a good way to ensure nothing gets lost in translation. It will take
time to get under the skin of what is happening in Italy as the far right takes
control and to understand fully what it will mean for immigrants, for the
LGBTQ+ community, for people of colour and others.
By drawing information from a range of
sources, both online and offline, journalists and content writers can look at
the complexities that underlie changes in policy and the impact of those
changes. They can then disseminate that information to others around the world.
There is of course, a cost attached to the Italian
translation of such documents. How much does it cost to hire a translator? That
depends on which Italian translation services you use and whether you opt for a
computer or a machine to undertake the work. Using someone who provides Italian
to English translation (or English to Italian translation) will cost more than
using a computer, which can translate for free, though with less accuracy than
a human can deliver. For Italian bloggers and news outlets looking to maximize
their international reach without maxing out their budget, a combination of the
two makes most sense.
Fostering connections
For those not content to sit and wait while
the far right rises to power in Italy, there is also the opportunity to use English
to Italian translation services to connect with those living in Italy. To
form new friendships and show support for communities that are negatively
impacted by the legislative and anti-libertarian changes that are likely to
occur.
Italy will be seen as an experiment by many
as GiorgiaMeloni’s government takes power. Her politics have already proven
divisive. Now the world is holding its breath to see how her rhetoric on the
campaign trail translates into policy in Italy’s new government.
