No kicking the can down the road in Italy - The Washington Post
Renzi is trying to shake up Italy’s sclerotic political and economic system — no kicking the can down the road for him — and he has had some success in his first year. Yet the politics are no easier for him than for leaders here trying to adapt old programs and institutions to the 21st century. Whether it’s the postal service, subsidies to cotton farmers, or preserving Social Security, U.S. interest groups that gain from the status quo are almost by definition better organized on their specific issue than those who would benefit from change — which is to say, the population at large.
Renzi is pushing other fundamental change: to Italy’s constitution, electoral system, tax code and more. The Economist magazine recently awarded mixed grades: his reforms range from “being implemented” (labor) to “nearing approval” (electoral reform) to “still a long way to go” (civil justice).
The prime minister does not seem daunted by “still a long way to go.”
“Really we can change Italy,” Renzi said. “It is the only way.




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