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| A female head of state in Italy: what are the chances? | A female head of state in Italy: what are the chances? |
| (4 months later) | |
| It's not often you see a woman in a red biretta – the square cap worn by Roman Catholic cardinals – but the video launched this week by an Italian gender equality association was not battling for a breakthrough in the church. Rather, its protagonists asked the question: "For a woman, is it easier to become a cardinal or to make it to the Quirinale [the president's residence]?" | It's not often you see a woman in a red biretta – the square cap worn by Roman Catholic cardinals – but the video launched this week by an Italian gender equality association was not battling for a breakthrough in the church. Rather, its protagonists asked the question: "For a woman, is it easier to become a cardinal or to make it to the Quirinale [the president's residence]?" |
| Ever since the installation of Enrico de Nicola as republican Italy's first acting head of state, after the second world war, the occupants of the presidential palace in Rome have been male. Now, say many people, the time has come for a woman to move in. | Ever since the installation of Enrico de Nicola as republican Italy's first acting head of state, after the second world war, the occupants of the presidential palace in Rome have been male. Now, say many people, the time has come for a woman to move in. |
| "I'm hoping for the election of a woman to the Quirinale," said Elsa Fornero, the high-profile labour minister in Mario Monti's technocratic government, on the state broadcaster Rai. "There are many distinguished women who would be perfectly capable of performing the role." | "I'm hoping for the election of a woman to the Quirinale," said Elsa Fornero, the high-profile labour minister in Mario Monti's technocratic government, on the state broadcaster Rai. "There are many distinguished women who would be perfectly capable of performing the role." |
| Susanna Camusso, general secretary of Italy's biggest trade union, the CGIL, also gave her backing to what she said would be an extraordinary development. | Susanna Camusso, general secretary of Italy's biggest trade union, the CGIL, also gave her backing to what she said would be an extraordinary development. |
| "I think that one of Italy's problems is an excessive exclusion of women from political and managerial roles," she said. | "I think that one of Italy's problems is an excessive exclusion of women from political and managerial roles," she said. |
| The same arguments were aired last time Italy chose a head of state, in 2006. While that election certainly brought a novelty factor, it was not the one feminists necessarily wanted: instead of the first woman, they got Giorgio Napolitano, the first former member of Italy's once-powerful Communist party. | The same arguments were aired last time Italy chose a head of state, in 2006. While that election certainly brought a novelty factor, it was not the one feminists necessarily wanted: instead of the first woman, they got Giorgio Napolitano, the first former member of Italy's once-powerful Communist party. |
| This time, many of the same names are swirling around, including Emma Bonino, a former European commissioner who is regarded as the leading possibility for a female presidency, and Anna Finocchiaro, a veteran leftwing politician. | This time, many of the same names are swirling around, including Emma Bonino, a former European commissioner who is regarded as the leading possibility for a female presidency, and Anna Finocchiaro, a veteran leftwing politician. |
| Despite the hype, many observers remain sceptical that women will fare any better than in 2006. But Francesca Maria Montemagno, vice-president of the Pari o Dispare association, which campaigns for greater gender equality, said there were reasons to think this time might be different – not least because the February elections saw the number of women in parliament rise significantly, to 31% of MPs. | Despite the hype, many observers remain sceptical that women will fare any better than in 2006. But Francesca Maria Montemagno, vice-president of the Pari o Dispare association, which campaigns for greater gender equality, said there were reasons to think this time might be different – not least because the February elections saw the number of women in parliament rise significantly, to 31% of MPs. |
| "It's time," she said. "I don't think it's just because I'm optimistic; I think we have all the ingredients to have a woman at the Quirinale … In our country we are ready for something new, and this could be a good start." | "It's time," she said. "I don't think it's just because I'm optimistic; I think we have all the ingredients to have a woman at the Quirinale … In our country we are ready for something new, and this could be a good start." |
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