E 'spent just a year after the primary that elected the secretary of the Democratic Party Walter Veltroni, with a constituent assembly composed of a few thousand people. The final destination of the Olive by Romano Prodi after 12 years of sailing. On October 14, 2007 went to the polls nearly three million people. While the first two years participation in the primaries that had sealed the nomination of Prodi ahead of elections 2006 was found to be even larger. More than 4 million. But then the consultation covered the entire center-left coalition. In both cases, however, the primaries have made extraordinary opportunity for participation. Millions of people lined up in front of makeshift polling stations to sign a declaration of membership. Willing to pay to vote. A sign of the vitality of civil society that is contrary to imagine - and theorize - a democracy tired, made up of citizens' indifference, for which the rite of election is enough. E 'too. The answer to the primary showed - shown - that people are silent because they have good reasons and worthwhile opportunities to express themselves. Moreover, the primary should not be confused with an expression of direct democracy. They are, however, closely linked to representative democracy, as used to select and legitimize the ruling class parties or the candidates for election to public office. However, despite the festivities are celebrated every day the most unlikely, the anniversary of the primaries was accompanied by a strange silence. Broken by some contributions in the press area. And any action by the Democratic Party and its surroundings. How to start Youdem, TV party wanted by Veltroni. A Democratic convention in Paris. This silence reflects, perhaps, a certain desire for removal. Fed, first, by the election results in April. If the primaries are in the genetic code of the Democratic Party, the defeat has, to some extent reduced the role. The gap between the participation of a year ago and the extent of electoral defeat has led to great disappointment. Hence some, perhaps unspoken, desire to forget. The defeat and his previous ones. The temptation to exorcise the disappointment of the election result by removing - forgetting - the illusion produced by the primary. However, imagine a victory in elections in April, was unrealistic, given the level of distrust towards the government and the social center. So the lack of attention around the primary has other reasons. Partly reflects the difficulty of the project implicit in the primaries. The construction of a party open to confrontation with society, can foster the formation and renewal of the ruling class. The primaries as an indication of the method. As a brand new model of party and democracy. We can not say that they have produced the expected results. The Democratic Party remains an unfinished project. The primaries have not become a general method for selecting the board. So far, nationally, have been used only to give investiture popular choices already made by the elites (Prodi before, so Veltroni). The Constituent Assembly, elected a year ago, however, met a few times and already seems to have concluded its mission. The primaries, however, were not used to choose candidates policies. Neither the mayor of Rome. Because of the short time frame, he said. A real problem. That, however, seems to have been greeted with relief groups leaders, worried by the emergence of some surprise, by definition, unwelcome. In general, at central and local bodies and elected the Democratic Party among the most important positions in the usual suspects always prevail. The party leaders who originates: the DS and the Margherita. Which often operate separately, as two specific entities (as noted by a change research organization of the "new" parties at local level led by Terence Fava, University of Urbino). The distribution of tasks is also membership on the basis of "partisan" (and current: in alemiani, rutelliani, popular, veltroniani ...). So, the primaries tend to become a problem, why complicate the balance of power between former parties, current leader. At the central level and local level. Especially if you can not control the outcome. If they can give, that is, unexpected results. And so disliked by leaders. As we have noted on other occasions: Obama, the flag of the democratic myth and Italians, in Italy could never prevail. To emerge. Too young: even fifty years! Out of the laps that count, controlled by Clinton. And then, in the U.S. (and others), hard to establish itself with the dark complexion ... I mean, is not "planned." In Italy, at the most would be appointed to represent the rights of immigrants, some municipal government, at most, in some government commission. Even those who speak of "no confidence" Veltroni, on the other hand, think they replace him with someone else of the "usual suspects". Co-optation or conspiracy. Sanchita - but only after - by popular vote. Which outlines a model of democracy undemocratic. A result inconsistent and somewhat ironic, given that the project giving rise to the Olive Tree, the Democratic Party primary aims and the exact opposite. Set limits to this custom and democracy at the same time impersonal. Tax on items "without society." Centralized, identified in the leader. The circles of leaders chosen on the basis criteria of fidelity and image. A democracy in which the mediation with the company was held by the media. The television, in the first place. Where contact with the "people" is through episodic and ocean baths crowd demonstrations. This is a format invented and imposed by Silvio Berlusconi, who adapted and redesigned, in its way, these trends - often dominant - in the West (and beyond). The French philosopher Bernard Manin has summarized in the formula of "democracy of the public." Sarkozy himself has imitated many traits. Some commentators have spoken of an "berluskozysmo. The PD is born to fight it on his land. But there seems to be successful. In particular, there appears to be able to oppose the drift of democracy that excludes voters from every choice of who should represent them. A representative "democracy" only in words, because the representatives will decide the oligarchy that controls. And, with these rules and with these parties, will command forever. Since the electoral law, policies, does not provide for preferential voting. And the size of constituencies to prevent a direct relationship with the elect (who could be in the majority of college). Since, moreover, is preparing a law with similar characteristics for the European elections. With high electoral threshold and the abolition of preferences. To prevent a snag. Some unwelcome list. Or worse: some candidates are not decided at national level. By now, only in local elections (municipal, provincial, regional) responsibility of the elected and the electorate is clear. But it is likely that, soon, will also address such anomalies. The PD, beyond the good will does not seem able to oppose this society without party politics. In this democracy that limits the power of the citizen in an exercise that takes place - and ends - once every few years. When the voter puts a cross on a card. And it all ends there. Until next time. That is the anniversary of the primaries would be a good opportunity. To remember - to remember. What the Democratic Party should be. But that still is not - and we do not know if they ever become. To remember - to remember. What could become of our democracy. Based on closed party - to society and the "circulation of elites" (to quote Pareto). A poor democracy, for a few close friends. It could have been, but it was not an occasion to remember. This anniversary ended how it began. Indifference.
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