Can Italy's new government be considered "democratic"?

[You kip if you want to...]

In regards to it being unelected with none of its ministers having faced an electorate.

[Franzl]

Certainly, as the parliament elected by the voters ultimately has the power.

[MaxQue]

Yes.

Electors decides who has the legislative power.
The legislative power decides who has the executive power.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Certainly, as the parliament elected by the voters ultimately has the power.

[Lief 🗽]

The EU's pretty much done away with "democracy" at this point. It seems that the markets and the "experts" are the only one's that get a say in the running of countries these days.

[The Mikado]

I don't see why not, seeing as it was chosen by the Parliament.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I don't see why not, seeing as it was chosen by the Parliament.

I thought it was chosen by Merkozy?

[Antonio the Sixth]

Certainly, as the parliament elected by the voters ultimately has the power.

This. And contrary to the previous one, this government didn't buy MPs' votes.

[Gustaf]

I say no. The current trend with regards to democracy is certainly worrying.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

I say yes. People can vote themselves out of democracy if they want.

[Leftbehind]

No; these parties didn't gain votes on the promise they'd install a dozen technocrats to power, with no goal other than appeasing markets. Only when they do get electoral backing (through Greece's scrapped referenda for instance) then it can be seen as democratic.

[Antonio the Sixth]

No; these parties didn't gain votes on the promise they'd install a dozen technocrats to power, with no goal other than appeasing markets. Only when they do get electoral backing (through Greece's scrapped referenda for instance) then it can be seen as democratic.

The people, however, have delegated their MPs the ability to take the measures they consider necessary during the time of their mandate.

[Leftbehind]

On the understanding that they'd work towards implementing the policies, platform and ideology they stood on - not just palm it off to some unknown who doesn't in the least share those ideals.

[Hash]

This standard would make the French Fourth Republic pretty woefully undemocratic.

[Landslide Lyndon]

The same ridiculous argument was used here. The voters don't elect their government, they elect their representatives, who then go on and a majority of them anoint their leader as Prime Minister and he goes on to form a government, which the representatives can throw out whenever they want.

[Antonio the Sixth]

On the understanding that they'd work towards implementing the policies, platform and ideology they stood on - not just palm it off to some unknown who doesn't in the least share those ideals.

If the voters consider their MPs have betrayed their promises, they ought not to reelect them during the next parliamentary elections. This is democracy.

[Jacobtm]

Bankocratic.

Not radically different than when Ford was President after Nixon stepped down, since Ford wasn't elected as Nixon's VP.

The Italian Parliament did approve the new government, yes? And that is something that is kosher in Italian law, non e? They don't need to choose a government of elected officials, right?

[Leftbehind]

On the understanding that they'd work towards implementing the policies, platform and ideology they stood on - not just palm it off to some unknown who doesn't in the least share those ideals.

If the voters consider their MPs have betrayed their promises, they ought not to reelect them during the next parliamentary elections. This is democracy.

I'd make certain to do that, but it seems like when only the Lega Nord are actually not partaking in this betrayal, it's not that easy.

Put simply, if you voted for, say, PD and upon winning they and their coalition installed a cable of Berlusconi loyalists to power for five years, you'd have no problem labelling that undemocratic. 

[Antonio the Sixth]

On the understanding that they'd work towards implementing the policies, platform and ideology they stood on - not just palm it off to some unknown who doesn't in the least share those ideals.

If the voters consider their MPs have betrayed their promises, they ought not to reelect them during the next parliamentary elections. This is democracy.

I'd make certain to do that, but it seems like when only the Lega Nord are actually not partaking in this betrayal, it's not that easy.

IdV isn't taking part to the coalition either, and SEL (which isn't represented in parliament, but likely will in next one) is even more reticent. I guess you'd vote for one of them (and I, too, am going to vote for SEL). And anyways, everybody is free to start his own party.

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Of course I'd have a problem labelling that undemocratic, because it's not. Words do have a meaning. And no matter how much you dislike such practice, it's still democracy.

[Leftbehind]

Part of the foundation of modern democracy is gaining voters on the platform on which you stand, and promising to deliver that. If parties can just completely disregard what they said they'd do, democracy's rendered a farce - a lie - and ultimately pointless, because you'd never be sure what you'd be getting.

I certainly would be voting SEL. 

[Antonio the Sixth]

Part of the foundation of modern democracy is gaining voters on the platform on which you stand, and promising to deliver that. If parties can just completely disregard what they said they'd do, democracy's rendered a farce - a lie - and ultimately pointless, because you'd never be sure what you'd be getting.

But the point is, they can. Everybody can get elected and do the exact contrary of what he promised. And not only they can, but they do pretty often. The examples are so numerous in history that listing them would likely take several decades. It sucks, but it's still democracy.

[ingemann]

I don't understand the point? The Italian parliament elect a government, the Italian parliament are elected by the Italian people. It's no difference from the British, Danish, Swedish or German government. So unless people believe that only a directly elected executive branch is democratic*, the Italian government should be considered democratic.

*Which limits true democracies to USA, Latin America, half of Africa, Central Asia, Caucasus, Cyprus, Indonesia, Iran, Yemen and Belarus.

[© tweed]

meaningful democracy has never existed where it doesn't exist at the point of production.  the EU situation only looks so horrible because power is so centralized, and the interests of people and nation-states are so blatantly subordinated to the interests of finance capital.

[The Mikado]

*Which limits true democracies to USA, Latin America, half of Africa, Central Asia, Caucasus, Cyprus, Indonesia, Iran, Yemen and Belarus.

France?

[Gustaf]

There is a difference between accepting that this is legal under the democratic system of Italy (which it obviously is) and thinking that it is democratic in spirit.

I maintain that it is deeply problematic to treat the democratic structure this way.