Italy Is Having an Election. Most Italians Are Too Depressed to Care.
“Ultimately, we feel far away from Rome.”
In Taranto, Rome’s influence is a visceral force as the Ilva steel mill — one of the largest in Europe — spews toxic dust
that blackens the windows of surrounding neighborhoods.
The trouble for Italy — as for much of the world — is that rising company fortunes no longer produce many jobs.
“Voting is useless,” Mr. Vagali said as he stood outside the gates of the steel mill.
Less than five years after she graduated from university, Emanuela Muolo, 28, has
already given up her dreams of a career in the field she studied, financial law.
He works at the Ilva plant, and he favors Five Star, given the party’s talk of building a new economy centered on green energy
Anti-establishment parties are drawing support from the economically distressed
— especially the populist Five Star movement, which is leading in many polls.