From the Baltic states to the United Kingdom, governments across Europe are preparing citizens, infrastructure and institutions for a possible escalation with Russia. In Italy, the idea of “whole-of-society defence” remains politically taboo

Delays in the passage of legislation are a structural problem in Italy. The causes are undoubtedly to be found in electoral cycles, but there are two other political decisions that should not be overlooked: the hiring freeze and the so-called ‘spoglie’ system