A time of crisis. The weakness of the political parties, the endless conflict, an electorate no longer guided by ideologies or channelled by manifestos. Courage (which is lacking) as the foremost virtue of a statesman: Kennedy’s view

The President of the Republic was scathing in his comments on the debate sparked by the jeweller’s case: “Adapting the law to individual behaviour amounts to the state abdicating its responsibilities.” He then took a swipe at the left: “Let us not hesitate to condemn the unacceptable violence in Val di Susa”