Politics
To the polls, in handcuffs •
The cop & the tax collector. Gabrielli and Ruffini are forming a party together on the left. The gravedigger is missing from the roll call
Only the Left, which never disappoints, could have imagined a party led by the former head of the tax authority and the former chief of police. The project, as is well known, is called ‘Più Uno’ – a name in which taxpayers might detect a faint echo of a surtax. The risk is that citizens will go into hiding
The law-enforcement official and the tax collector – an unusual pairing – are set to form a party together. Ernesto Maria Ruffini and Franco Gabrielli – the former director of the Revenue Agency (and former head of Equitalia) and the former chief of police (and former head of the Digos) – are aiming to ‘bring citizens back into politics, as the old parties are no longer able to inspire them’. The risk is that citizens might go into hiding. But the idea, it must be admitted, is brilliant nonetheless, proving once again that the centre-left never disappoints. Ruffini already said it a few days ago: we must ‘pursue’ the common good. And ‘pursue’, of course, is a marvellous verb. After all, who better than them to pursue the non-voters and lead them to active repentance? The project, as is well known, is called ‘Più Uno’ – a name in which the taxpayer might detect a faint echo of a surtax.
However, these are merely jokes. Gabrielli explained it yesterday to Aldo Cazzullo in the Corriere: “I will support” – his words – “a project that is already underway”. Consider the hypothetical case of a resident on the fifth floor in Tor Pignattara who hears the doorbell ring and finds the chief of police standing there, who—in a polite voice, flanked by the tax collector—says to her, “Good morning, I’m the one in charge of the new project. I’ve come to accompany you.” She grabs her handbag, kisses her granddaughter and shouts to her husband to tell the solicitor. Initially there was only Ruffini, but since the initiative is called Più Uno, Gabrielli has now joined as well, and observers are wondering who will be next. It seems the former president of the ANM is available. There is also the former president of the National Federation of Funeral Directors. On Saturday 10 October, at the Salone delle Colonne in the EUR district, Più Uno will present its articles of association. It remains to be seen whether even the disillusioned voter will find the courage to come forward. With two options: either to the police, or to the tax collector.