Elections, Time to check your Tessera Elettorale Options

[Peter Gee]

Just to continue a little; for the longer-term immigrants the most common reason for being in Italy seems to be family. I came to Italy in the first place for one reason only - love of my wife - so for me a very simple and compelling reason. Since being here, however, I have come to love Italy as well - warts and all - which is what makes me feel passionately about some of the things that many Brits seem not to notice (or PDL [I miss being able to call them FI's] supporters, come to that! ).

I realise that the majority of the Brits that you see in Puglia are here only for their holidays though, the vast majority of which are just passing through. Those that buy property here seem to fall into two main categories; serious immigrants intending to live here permanently and engage fully with Italian life, or those with the idea that they will make some quick money out of property here, perhaps enjoying the odd holiday here at the same time. I cannot say that I have any great liking for the latter as they tend to live in rather closed groups, neither engaging in Italian life nor developing much of an interest in anything Italian outside, as Nick said earlier, sun, sea, food and wine - tourists, in other words.

Holiday home owning tourists can have a negative impact on life here for Italians when they buy in an area that is normally an area lived in all year round. Yes, I know that when someone buys a house here they will bring some cash with them and the local economy will benefit from it - well, the agents, lawyers and builders will. But the local shops, such as GS or Auchan will not notice your contribution in reality. Puglia is protected from the worst of the effects of holiday home ownership as most of the areas in which such houses are bought are only occupied part-time anyway, used as weekend homes by Baresi or Brindisini locals, so local businesses, shops, schools, etc. are not forced to close because of only having customers for two months of the year as has happened in many other places - Sardinia comes to mind here, Corsica in France and Wales in the UK, for example.

OK then, here's a thought for you. Why do holiday home owners come here? Either to Puglia or to Italy itself for that matter. Is it just for the investment, where they hope to make a quick "buck" by either renting their trullo, villa or "masseria" out, or selling it on when prices increase? Or are they in the embrace of a romantic dream of Italy, conjured up by a magazine article they read? Or, perhaps more worryingly, to escape the political or economic climate (or even the courts!) in their home region?

And Nick - we have lots of very good wine up here in the Otrepò as well, my comment was merely a light-hearted jibe that could as well have been orecchiette. Although, I agree, I am an old...

[clint]

Next round of election in San Vito is going to take place 11/04 and 12/04

[nickandadelaide]

That should keep the boy happy, another day or 2 off of school.

[Peter Gee]

Second Round Local Election Results.


Obviously Dott Berlusconi is a liked man in San Vito degli Inglesi - Magli (PDL) won with 57,5% of the vote.

Shame.

Ceglie seems to also enjoy the "benefits" of Berlusconi as the PDL candidate won there with 50,34% of the vote.

Shame.

Acquaviva delle Fonti: PD/IDV 54,67% - PDL 45,32%
Galatina: PSI/UDC 59,88% - PDL 40,11%
Latiano: IDV 52,12% - PD/UDC 47,87%
San Pietro Vernotico: IDV/UDC 51,39% - PDL 48,6%
Torremaggiore: PD 53,08% - PDL 46,91%

Bravi!

And to illustrate my own fears for Italy, a town local to me up here voted 72,78% for the Lega Nord against the Berlusconi chap who polled a mere 27,21%.

Interesting times ahead, I fancy...