Published by: Beatrice La Fauci Belponer

These are strange times. One minute we are walking carelessly down the streets, meeting friends at a bar, going to parties on the weekends, no cares in the world, and then all of a sudden, we are flooded by this fear of a new deadly virus spreading around the world quicker than we’ve ever seen before. We witness our countries' leaders try to temporarily stop the bleeding by flooding citizens with new laws and restrictions. Some with more luck than others. Fear rises, and our lives abruptly change. Now, nearly a year later, hearing the number of deaths in the newspaper is the new normal. Walking around the city, for the little time we are allowed to stay out, with masks is the new normal. Hugs, kisses, fun with groups of friends is a dream, long forgotten. Confusion rules sovereign. The ephemerality of the decrees makes people uncertain of how to live their lives. Countries, represented by colors (red, orange) showing the level of risk, is the new geography. Nevertheless, one thing is certain: we are facing a hard situation that involves the whole world. 
People ask themselves how long will this torture go on? In Italy, questions arise about the efficiency of the decisions taken by the government. Are they really the best for our country? Or are they worsening the situation? 
An overview of the problem: the Italian government does not have the money to sustain a lockdown in the long term for the main reason. Italy has high public debt and is not able to sustain an economic recession. According to Soldionline, in August 2020, the public debt was at 2.579 billion euros. Antonio Scurati, a famous Italian writer, commented on this in the newspaper, “Il Corriere Della Sera”. He believes that "there is not enough money to compensate the many who would suffer from the consequences of those serious and necessary decisions taken by the government". At the same time, there is a problem of inadequacy of the political class, which Antonio Scurati also comments on in the same newspaper. He mentions the "forecast errors and lack of planning by the courthouse and the political inability to order, at the right time, the right laws. 
Gov leadership is inadequate to handle such a crisis, thus creating social tension and confusion. 
There are many instances that prove the Italian government’s inability to issue adequate laws. Firstly, there is a constant change of the DPCM, which is the Ministerial decree. In total, since the start of the pandemic, the government has released 158 laws, and regulations, of which 15 were DPCMs (“DPCM e DL Relative a COVID-19: Elenco Completo Dei Decreti Emessi ”). One of these decrees, the School decree is a great example of inefficiency. To ensure a safe return to school for the year 2020 - 2021, the current minister of education, Lucia Azzolini, in September signed the decree that stated: “By October 30th, 2.4 million 
innovative desks will arrive in the classrooms.” These desks were purchased at a total cost of 200 million euros, almost 300 euros each ( “Oltre 2 Milioni Di Nuovi Banchi Entro Ottobre. Test Sierologici a Campione Agli Studenti”). These desks were supposed to ensure a safe, covid free environment in classrooms, which would ensure schools remain open. A few months later, on November 4th, all schools were closed, and online learning has been used since then. 
At the same time, there is no economic protection of Italian firms and citizens. The italian government only gave subsidies for the private sector (“I Provvedimenti Del Governo a Sostegno Del Lavoro.”). The problem is taxes. These subsidies were not followed by a tax suspension, despite Italy having a tax rate ranging from 23% to 43% depending on income (International living). In the city of Palermo, Sicily, owners of restaurants had to pay the trash tax even if they were closed during the lockdown (Brunetto). One of the restaurant owners received a tax bill of 2400 euros (Brunetto). How can small firms survive financially, with an important decrease in profit, and constant taxes? These are the same restaurant owners that at the start of the second wave were ordered to purchase sanification methods and plexiglass, only to once again be closed down after a few months (ANSA). Where did all that money go? Certainly not to the poor private businesses who had to sustain all the costs. The economic aid is insufficient. The government should help businesses promptly and to an extent to cover losses. 
Another example of bad decision-making is the lack of laws protecting the elderly. There is no public home assistance for the elderly. If they become infected they have to rush to the hospital (Privatassistenza). At the same time, the government did not adopt any scheduling to try and separate the age groups unlike countries like Hungary where these measures were adopted. According to Hungary Today, “a daily time frame for shoppers older than 65 was introduced. Between 9 am and 11 am on weekdays and 8 am and 10 am on weekends, customers below that age are banned from shopping in grocery shops, household 
chemists and pharmacies'' (“Coronavirus: Shopping Hours for Elderly Reintroduced.”).
The lack of adequate leadership and decision-making created social unrest throughout the whole country. People are confused, economically debilitated, and tired. On the 13th of November, in Naples, two hundred protesters asked the government for relief for the lockdown and the consequent economic crisis (“Covid, Campania Zona Rossa, Scoppia La Protesta a Napoli: in Piazza Mercatali e Disoccupati”). At the same time, in Umbria: “they want to close the restaurants for the Christmas holidays? Before deciding, the government needs to send us the money to save our companies”, thunders Gianfranco Vissani, master of Italian cuisine and founder of Casa Vissani. 
Private businesses are failing and owners are just at the start of their fight for justice. 
To truly understand the inefficiency around Italian leadership, we should contrast it with the Australian government’s decision-making. Francesco Rota, an Italian restaurant owner, in Melbourne, explained the government’s plan to handle the pandemic. The government has donated to all Australian citizens who have been working for at least a year economic support that allows them to live comfortably, which they will keep receiving until march 2021 if the business cannot recuperate at least 60% percent of the revenue (Santarpia). All rent payments were suspended. For enterprises like Francesco Rota’s, 50% of the rent was completely canceled, and the other 50% was paid in installments (Santarpia). Mortgages were also suspended. 
For those who had to stay home waiting for the test results for 2 days, they were given 450 AUD, which is about 280 euros, to compensate for the job losses and to avoid any temptation of leaving the house to go to work (Santarpia). Instead, those who had to stay 14 days in solitary confinement, and proved that they no longer had holidays or sick days to use, received 930 euros (Santarpia). They also had a 7 months complete lockdown, and now on December 19th have only 43 cases and zero deaths. 
From start to finish, there is a clear contrast in all areas of leadership between Italy and Australia. The Italian government, from the start of this pandemic, has not been able to sustain, efficiently, its citizens. Partly because of the enormous public debt, that didn’t allow them to issue adequate financial aid. Along with the government’s lack of adequate leadership. People are tired. Tired of seeing their friends and family die. Tired of being economically damaged. And tired of this government regime.
Citations 
“Covid, Campania Zona Rossa, Scoppia La Protesta a Napoli: in Piazza Mercatali e Disoccupati.” Covid, Campania Zona Rossa, Scoppia La Protesta a Napoli: in Piazza Mercatali e Disoccupati, Il Messaggero, 13 Nov. 2020, 
www.ilmessaggero.it/italia/covid_campania_zona_rossa_napoli_protesta_cosa_succede_ultima_ora _13_novembre_2020-5584237.html. 
Santarpia, Valentina. “Il Ristoratore Italiano a Melbourne: ‘Il Governo Ci Ha Aiutato, Ora Riapro (Dopo 7 Mesi), Qui Ci Sono Zero Casi.’” Corriere Della Sera, Corriere Della Sera, 27 Oct. 2020, 
www.corriere.it/cronache/20_ottobre_27/pronto-festeggiare-fine-lockdown-australia-set te-mesi-ecco-come-siamo-arrivati-zero-casi-91d3dd64-1830-11eb-8b6a-8e17b1e81f26. shtml. 
Covid, Campania Zona Rossa, Scoppia La Protesta a Napoli: in Piazza Mercatali e Disoccupati, Il Messaggero, 13 Nov. 2020, 
www.ilmessaggero.it/italia/covid_campania_zona_rossa_napoli_protesta_cosa_succede _ultima_ora_13_novembre_2020-5584237.html. 
ANSA. “Coronavirus: Federcuochi, per Ristoranti Plexiglass e Asporto - Terra & Gusto.” ANSA.it, 21 Apr. 2020, 
www.ansa.it/canale_terraegusto/notizie/in_breve/2020/04/21/coronavirus-federcuochi-p er-ristoranti-plexiglass-e-asporto-_c473b99c-bdc0-49a7-89b8-549b116ceaf6.html. 
“Coronavirus: Shopping Hours for Elderly Reintroduced.” Hungary Today, 24 Nov. 2020, hungarytoday.hu/hungary-shopping-hours-time-elderly-reintroduced/. 
“Oggi La Casa e' Luogo Piu' Sicuro Dove Assistere i Tuoi Cari. Chiama Ora Privatassistenza, Rispondiamo 24 Ore Su 24.” Privatassistenza, 
www.privatassistenza.it/assistenza-domiciliare-anziani-e-malati-durante-lemergenza-covid-19-c oronavirus/. 
Brunetto, Claudia, and Sara Scarafia. “Palermo, La Rabbia Degli Esercenti per La Tari Senza Sconto: ‘Una Beffa per Chi Lavora in Perdita.’” La Repubblica, La Repubblica, 18 Nov. 2020, palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/2020/11/18/news/palermo_la_rabbia_degli_esercenti_per_la_tari_ senza_sconto_una_beffa_per_chi_lavora_in_perdita_-274790079/. 
“I Provvedimenti Del Governo a Sostegno Del Lavoro.” MEF, 28 Sept. 2020, www.mef.gov.it/covid-19/I-provvedimenti-del-Governo-a-sostegno-del-Lavoro/. 
“Scuola, Azzolina: ‘Oltre 2 Milioni Di Nuovi Banchi Entro Ottobre. Test Sierologici a Campione Agli Studenti’. Mattarella Firma Il Decreto.” Azzolina: "Oltre 2 Milioni Di Nuovi Banchi Entro Ottobre. Test Sierologici a Campione Agli Studenti". Mattarella Firma Il Decreto, Il Messaggero, 9 Sept. 2020,
www.ilmessaggero.it/scuola/scuola_azzolina_banchi_ottobre_riapertura_oggi_ultime_n otizie-5450607.html. 
“DPCM e DL Relativi a COVID-19: Elenco Completo Dei Decreti Emessi (AGGIORNAMENTO QUOTIDIANO).” Porto4, 8 July 2020, 
www.porto4.it/coronavirus/dpcm-e-dl-relativi-a-covid-19-elenco-completo/. https://internationalliving.com/countries/italy/taxes/