Bestselling author such as ‘The Uselessness of the Useless’, received the award for his career at the Fair Saturday Awards this Monday without getting Giorgia Meloni out of his head
Philosopher and professor at the University of Calabria, he is the author of ‘best sellers’ such as ‘The utility of the useless’ and ‘Classics for life’. In his youth he worked as a journalist while studying – «there was no money in my house» – and since then he has never lost his taste for the rabid current affairs. In this sense, Nuccio Ordine (Calabria, 1958) has always considered himself a thinker and citizen who is committed to society, “in my country and around the world”, he pointed out to this newspaper this Monday, shortly before speaking in the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao received the Ad Honorem Award in the fifth edition of the Fair Saturday Awards. The Italian intellectual thanked the prize in Spanish and Basque in front of a packed house.
– Universal citizen, allow me now to focus on the figure of Giorgia Meloni. How would you describe the ideology of the leader of the Brothers of Italy?
– I understand the interest, more was needed. In fact, it must be emphasized that Meloni’s election is not good news for Italy or for Europe. Brothers of Italy is a right-wing party with allies in the European Parliament such as Viktor Orbán in Hungary and Santiago Abascal in Spain.
– Do you think she will be elected Prime Minister?
– Yes Yes. Another thing is how he will deal with the right-wing government alliance and especially who will be the minister of economy. Complicated, it will be complicated. Recall that the Brothers of Italy are part of a coalition that includes Matteo Salvini’s League and Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia. They are acronyms with differing opinions, both on energy issues and in the relationship with the Russians or the European Union. Which options will prevail? We’ll see, I don’t like to speculate.
– Would you describe the Brothers of Italy as a neo-fascist formation?
– Well, well, I don’t like to label complex realities. You have to go deeper to understand reality or at least not lose the nuances. Brothers of Italy is a broad right-wing party. There are militants from the extreme right, but also people who disagree with fascism. It’s a populist formation, that’s for sure. It has had a very aggressive, anti-European ideology from the start, as opposed to immigration and homosexuals.
– How do you explain going from 4.4% of the vote to 26.3% in just four years?
– It has benefited from being a party that has remained on the sidelines of power for the time being. He’s always been in opposition and that’s what keeps him…
– Cleaned? Innocent?
– Something like that. Distrust of politicians has played a role. And also the fact that there is no real one left in Italy. Draghi is a very competent man, but banks and finance have had a predominant role on his agenda.
– They say that there is now a lot of ‘qualunquism’ in Italian society. In other words, sheer passivity and political apathy.
– Indifference indeed increases mistrust. And also fear. A very complicated autumn is approaching, with prices rising, gas and electricity, with no light at the end of the tunnel. An ideal context for Brothers of Italy who, like others in his line, are a party that abuses uncertainty to its own advantage. He acts as a ‘fear entrepreneur’. What does this mean? Well, it manages people’s fear and makes it profitable. He is only interested in power and looking for scapegoats. You know, the old story is always: the fault of all ills belongs to others. Rows are closed and a rigid and theoretically pure identity is defended. Nothing new.
– The motto ‘God, Land and Family’ smells like mothballs. It is striking that Hermanos de Italia broadcasts it with such pride.
– It’s a stagnant strategy but they show it without complexes. Unbelievable but true. How sad to have only one home country… I finished my education in France and I am very proud. In fact, here in Bilbao I will allow myself to read a text in Basque, at the Fair Saturday Awards, because my respect for all languages is infinite. Every time one is lost, a window closes on the world. I have that very clear.
– Well, Meloni likes to underline her Roman accent and make fun of the French. You have a strange fixation with Emmanuel Macron, don’t you think?
– She is a woman who has not really traveled much. He made a career in Rome, from scratch. It made itself and I do not deny that it has merit. I also have a humble background. I was born in Calabria and in my house there were no books. I never thought I would become a university professor, but I met very good teachers. I believe in the human factor and solidarity.
– And may we know what a formation like ‘Brothers of Italy’ believes in?
– In total selfishness, which is summed up in ‘every man saves himself and us first’. It is a selfishness closely associated with ‘Thatcherian’ neoliberalism imposed as if there were no alternative. Money and identity become an obsession. Foreigners are seen as enemies who take our work, religion, language… They are lies that poison us.
– Given the overall picture, are you optimistic?
– Never stop being. I defend and claim quality education, the humanities and the role of teachers. I insist: the human factor and solidarity make us move forward. In this sense, it’s a good sign that books like mine are “best sellers”…
– And the uncertainty? The economic crisis? Isn’t that a very dangerous breeding ground?
– Let’s not be afraid. Fate is not written. Everyone is responsible for his life, we must not let ourselves be carried away with closed eyes. Let’s have discretion.
Source: La Verdad
I am an experienced and passionate journalist with a strong track record in news website reporting. I specialize in technology coverage, breaking stories on the latest developments and trends from around the world. Working for Today Times Live has given me the opportunity to write thought-provoking pieces that have caught the attention of many readers.
