An interview with Emma Bonino, by Francesco De Core

ABSTRACT: Three good reasons to join the Radical Party: to become shareholders of the only party that can save the nobleness of politics; to politically adopt the citizens of countries where freedom and life itself are in jeopardy; to promote major international battles.

(ROME, February 23rd, 1993)

A dream, a nightmare or a bureaucratic deadline: call it as you wish, the trumpeted objective of 30,000 memberships the Radical Party has set itself to survive, with a little presumption, perhaps, or clinging to the part of Italy that is still alive under the ashes of the defunct party apparatus. But then, moderation is fatal, as Oscar Wilde once said. Nothing is more successful than excess.

Call it as you wish, but don't mention the word "realism" in front of Emma Bonino, the radical "pasionaria". She resents the word especially now that many are finding shelter under the radical roof.

Q: Do you realistically think you will succeed in gathering 30,000 memberships by next Saturday?

A: What does "realistically" mean? Had we been realists, we would have lost all our battles. Luckily we aren't, so we'll go on until February 28th. After that we shall see...

In fact, February 28th is very close. It could be a doomsday for the Radical Party, but pessimism is something which is not accepted in the radical party. Emma and Marco, the party's "mummy" and "daddy", have no intention of dying, and travel up and down Italy, appear on TV, launch appeals, ask for adhesions, organize debates, produce TV ads, 24 hours a day, if possible a minute more. A membership card for 365,000 lire, do you still want a party of just causes and with clean hands? they shout at an Italy still prostrated under the shock wave of the kickback scandals.

Q: What are the last things you will try?

A: The usual things: promoting information, moments of solidarity with the membership campaign. On Sunday morning in Rome we met people in a major popular demonstration; one of the many demonstrations. Then we organized signature-gathering stands in the streets and an extraordinary mobilization to collect adhesions by telephone. Saturday we will be in Naples. By the way, do you know you can join by simply calling 06/689791 and giving your credit card number?

Q: Give me three good reasons to join the radical party.

A: First, to become shareholders of the only model of party that can save the other parties, and first of all the very nobleness of politics: the Radical Party is not a party-church, it is not a business venture, it does not take kickbacks and benefits. Secondly, to adopt and help survive the citizens of countries where freedom and life itself are in jeopardy, namely Bosnia, Macedonia, Somalia and more...Thirdly, to promote at the transnational level major ideas and projects of general interest, such as the abolition of the death penalty by the year 2000, the promotion of an environmentalist policy to save the earth from the imminent and preannounced disaster, enhancing the institutions of Europe and making the states born of the collapse of communism join it.

Q: What role do you expect to play in this collapsing system?

A: The radicals have never been part of the system which is now falling apart. The system scoffed and sneered at us, kept us at bay for over thirty years as a "different" minority. Now that the radicals' forecasts are all proving true, it is to be hoped that the country will notice us and give us our legitimate role.

Q: Many outstanding personalities have joined, whereas ordinary people are scarce. Why?

A: Are you joking? The fact is that today the radical party is different. It is a new, unprecedented party. At the congress, eight hundred of the delegates came from Russia, Africa, the Americas, Europe. There were ministers, parliamentarians, ambassadors from all over the world, all with a membership card...But has anyone wondered why so many MPs of the DC have joined the Radical Party? It is a fact of huge importance. The media have ignored the fact, they should be asked this question.

Q: The idea of a transnational party has met with scant success...

A. You know perfectly well what a transnational party means. But how can ordinary people know? Has anyone ever informed them? On the other hand, it is true that a fierce and highly dangerous selfishness has spread in the Western countries. Most people seem to think, "who cares about what's going on in Bosnia". But these people ignore that the risks of a disaster of huge proportions starting from Bosnia itself are far from remote. It's the same as for Spain in 1936. Three years later a world war broke out.

Q: Many accuse you of creating a "mishmash" party.

A: The Radical Party has always been an "omnibus" party, where anyone may join. The result is not a "mishmash", but rather a site of high and civilized debate and confrontation.

Q: Pannella handed you a difficult task. What if you fail?

A: The problem isn't so much knowing what we radicals will do if the party were to close. The problem is how to successfully continue so many projects, so many ideas and hopes common to ordinary people. These are the problems Pannella left, and believe me, we are very worried at this time.

Q: You have said lately that you lack intellectuals and political experts. Why now, after a life-time spent without them?

A: Let's get this straight. The fact is not that we need intellectuals and political analysts. We blame them for the scarce attention, indifference and irresponsibility with which they address the "radical question". For decades they have applauded every single pseudo-Marxist verbosity. Of the hundreds of university courses, not one of them dealt with the Radical Party. Now, without guidance, we seem to have fallen into a helpless skepticism. Should we not blame them for these mistakes, which have damaged them and culture in general?

Q: Why have you never managed to bridge the gap with the PDS?

A: At the time of the major lay and liberal battles promoted by the "founding" radicals, starting from divorce, abortion or the referendum on party financing, the PDS mostly supported us. And if the PCI and the PDS have changed in time, this is also thanks to the their members' spirit of unity. Regretfully the militants of the former communist party are not always consulted...Bad feelings have stemmed from the deliberately poor information which their leading classes have fed the masses.