The Pope resigns – “Pope’s resignation overshadows Italian elections.” The Portuguese daily Publico headline showed how the attention of the foreign press moved from Italy’s politics to the announcement made by Pope Benedict XVI. The news of the pontiff’s withdrawal, announced on February 12, was covered by all over the world, from Spain (El Pais – El Papa renuncia para limpiar el Vaticano) to Brazil (Folha de S. Paulo – Bento 16 renuncia; novo papa deve ser escolhido até a Páscoa), as well as France (Les Echos Hollande et Benoît XVI, l’indifférence cordiale) and the United Kingdom (The Guardian – Benedict the placeholder pope leaves a battered, weakened church). The reporting was accompanied by analysis – for example the New York Times wondered about the Church’s ability to change Chiesa (New Pope? I’ve Given Up Hope) – and articles speculating on who would be Joseph Ratzinger’s successor (Time – Who Will Be the Next Pope? Bookmakers Place Their Bets). Finally, there were some references to Italy, especially Nanni Moretti who imagined a pope’s resignation in his moved “Habemus Papam” (La Nacion – El increíble anticipo de Nanni Moretti).
The final sprint of the elections – Although less space was dedicated to the elections because of the pope’s announcement, the foreign press was still interested and – with the end of the campaign in sight – started asking new questions about Italy’s future. The British weekly The Economist (Feb. 15 – Who can save Italy? ) explained that while Italy was better off than other countries in southern Europe, cannot stop the reforms underway. Publico asked another question “What if no one wins the elections?” (Feb. 10 – E se ninguém vencer as eleições italianas?*). The Portuguese paper expressed a widespread concern found in other papers. On Febuary 15, the Wall Street Journal wrote that polls have not shown any clear majorities (Italian Polls Don’t Point at a Strong Majority for Next Government) while El Pais (Feb. 9 – Los sondeos alertan de que Italia se enfrenta al desgobierno ) discusses the risks that the country will become ungovernable. This uncertainty, says the German paper Handelsblatt is reflected on the performance of Italian bonds (Feb. 12 – Italiens Anleiherendite steigt vor der Wahlen).
The return of the Duetto – But Italian politics is not the only interest of the foreign press. As customary, there are references to Italian design and life style. The new Alfa Romeo roadster is ready for the American market and combines both design and life style, reviving the myth of the Duetto (ne parlano ilon Feb. 12 in Wall Street Journal – Alfa Romeo Readies 4C Sports Car for Geneva Debut; Washington Post – Italy’s Alfa Romeo to make US comeback this year with new two-seat sports car; Bloomberg Businessweek – Alfa Romeo to make US comeback with new sports car). And Ferruccio Rossi, CEO of the Ferretti Group explained the enthusiasm for Made in Italy products in a video interview to Bloomberg Businessweek, and stated that Italian products are a status symbol (Feb. 9 – `Made in Italy’ Brand Seen as Luxury Status Symbol).
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