SUMMARY: His candidacy with the Radicals involves an effort to "re-found politics", without leaving it in the hands of the old politicians. He asserts that the coming elections will result in some shifting toward "the Radical zone". Claims that there is in Italy, even if still under an amorphous state, a mode of "thinking in the present", "according to reality", that "is represented by the left". He states that behind violence and terrorism are actually hiding "foreigner activists".
(ECO DI PADOVA, June 5, 1979)
Question: »Does your candidacy with the Radicals stand for a commitment to the civil rights battle, or is it also an effort to "re-found politics" as you recently stated?
Answer: »My candidacy with the Radicals means just this: that right now politics is something which is too important, and even tragic, to leave it only in the hands of politicians. I went back over my decision not to go into politics - which, for my age and health and for my work as a writer, is a sound decision - only to point out how much worried and in distress this country is. I am running for a party but I don't feel myself belonging to any side. My side is in that part of the left where it is still alive, creative and truthful.
Q.: »Only a month ago you declared to oppose prior-to-term elections as well as any personal direct involvement into the political life after your experience as an indipendent with the PCI in Palermo. Now you are accused of having made a contradictory decision.
A.: »Prior-to-term elections are symptoms of pure impotence and stupidity by those who wanted them. Not much will change in terms of balance, especially between the two major parties. The only change will most probably occur in the Radical area and from there it will maybe be possible to steer in a different direction a part of the Left movement. Mine, therefore, is not a contradictory decision.
Q.: »You are running both for the National and the European ParliamentS. As a writer involved in the social and political sphere, do you think you can work in a country and a State you yourself have compared to a powerful lobby?
A.: »I don't know, but something has to be done .
Q.: In the 'Moro case' (1) you talk about "happily returning fireflies". A sign of hope that something will change? Is this what made you return to politics?
A.: »Hope, of course. As peasants say: without hope you cannot plant any olive tree. I say: without hope one can neither write books nor do what I am now doing.
Q.: »You have recently defined yourself "man of the left" pointing out that "the left is made out only by still thinking men." What does this statement mean under the actual domestic and International political situation?
A.: »In the Italian political life, distinction between right and left has become almost invisiblethat's because the left, both in its official and subversive reality, is nostalgic of the past. Being nostalgic of the past was once a pecularity of the right, but slowly it has become trait of the left. But, in this country of ours, there exists - even if scattered - a way of thinking into the present; that is, a way of thinking according to reality, according to the real problems and dangers. This is the left. Still amorphous in shape, but it is there.
Q.: »Today there is a lot of talking about the so-called "back-flow" and the going back into the private. You recently said the the Italian people have been spoiled by commodities and showing the worst aspects of that. How do you view people's distrust and disillusion?
A.: »The going back into the past is a sociological invention. There is, in Italy, no more going back into the past today than there was at Guicciardini's time. Of course, people are disillusioned but, at the same time, they are constantly told that they cannot but being disillusioned.
Q.: »You have recently stated that violence and terrorism are hard to fight due to "foreigners activists". Where does your mistrust come from?
A.: »It's a matter of fact: if you piece together all the parts, all the information we have about terrorism, it is not difficult to see that. You just need to re-read the last two interviews with judge Alessandrini. Very carefully and with a red marker underline all the important points.
Q.: »What do you think about the initiative taken by the judges who accuse the major members of the Padua "autonomia" (2) of being part of the organizing brains for the BR (3) and the "armed party"?
A.: »I don't think anything in particular, I am just waiting to see what happens next.
Q.: »What do you think these elections could mean for Italy and for Europe? Will there be a change or will the logic of "The Leopard" be prevailing on the European level as well? Change just as little as necessary in order to leave everything the way it is?
A.: »Something in Italy is about to change, something must change: let's hope that it won't change for the worst. The understanding of the history of Italy, according to the prince of Lampedusa, is bound to change for the worst. We cannot forget that Fascism happened.
(" Eco di Padova", June 5, 1979; interview by Salvatore Signorelli)
----
Translator's Notes:
(1) MORO ALDO. (Maglie 1916 - Rome 1978). Italian politician. Secretary of the Christian Democratic Party (1959-65), mastermind of the Centre-Left policy. Several times minister as of 1956, Prime Minister (1963-68, 1974-76) president of the Christian Democratic Party as of 1956, he favoured the participation of the Communist Party (PCI) in the government, outlining the hypothesis of a so-called "third stage" (after those of "centrism" and "centre-left") of the political system. He was kidnapped by the Red Brigades on 16 March 1978 in Rome and found dead on 9 May of the same year.
(2) AUTONOMIA OPERAIA. Political movement of the extreme Left, active during the second half of the '70s. Reached its peak efficiency in 1977, in 1979 was denounced for connivance with terrorism, and some of its leaders were tried. According to its theorists, the working class was to organize itself in forms that were to be "independent" from the State, its historical enemy.
(3) RED BRIGADES. (Known as BR). Clandestine terrorist organization of the extreme Left, born and operating in Italy as of 1969. By proclaiming the revolution of the working classes, the organization tried to open several fronts of armed revolt against the State and the political establishment, carrying out a series of attempts, wounding, kidnapping and assassinationg politicians, journalists, magistrates and industrial executives. Its leader was Renato Curcio. In 1978 the organization kidnapped and killed Aldo Moro.
