Italian fudge, not as tasty as Scottish

Sitting in Brussels I see a lot of different political styles and attitudes, and some national stereotypes do ring true. Never ask an Irish politician to make a speech in under 20 minutes, or without some lyrical reference to a poet or something, never expect a Scandic to smile while speaking, that sort of thing. But my personal favourites, for entertainment value at least, have to be the Italians. You can usually spot them for the elegant appearance, natty dressing and the mobile phone stuck to their ear at all times of the day (and I suspect night) whether in meetings, the chamber, lunch or wherever else. I almost always have the impression that the getting things done comes rather second to the sociable side of politics.

We also of course see different snippets of information with our colleagues, so when I received an email from Rome which started:

"Dear all,

as you probably know there is going to be (with a 99% probability) a Government crisis in Italy."

it all rang true. A few days later the government of Romano Prodi fell, amid the usual allegations of corruption, chaotic scenes in the Italian Parliament and scuffles and fisticuffs.

While a bemused Italian population looks on and wonders why Italian politicians just cannot seem to get it together.

So news last night that an interim government under Franco Marini (no I don't know him either) to handle the "ordinary business" and keep the seat warm for elections comes as no surprise, but should concern us all.

The state of the Italian economy is parlous. Tax evasion and illegality is the norm not the exception. Italian politicians are held in contempt by their own electors, and there is no sign that the likely re-election of right winger Silvio Berlusconi will do anything to tackle the systemic weak, divided and pretty venal nature of Italian politics. Italian politicians earn about 120,000 pounds a year, double my wage and about three tmies that of an MSP in Holyrood.

We can say what we like about Scottish politicians, but in my experience the vast majority of politicians of all parties in Scotland might perhaps not be the sparkiest, but are there to try to do a decent shift, and work long hours for not much glory. Only lately in Holyrood have we seen the sort of venal posturing (George Foulkes might know who I'm talking about) rife in Italian politics but with no place in the radical consensual Nordic social democracy we are creating in Scotland.

Meanwhile Italy is a big old part of the eurozone, and with so much of the economy undeclared or struggling it has a big effect on the credibility of the euro as a currency. For Italian politicians to spend as much time fiddling their own expenses while Rome burns has a direct impact on all of Europe.