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

[Gustaf]

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

[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.

[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.

I like this answer. Mind you, what I have a serious problem with isn't so much the existence of a technocratic government (as questionable as that must always be) but the fact that it apparently intends to stay in power for the duration of the parliamentary term. Of course it might not be able to do that, but the principle is a questionable one.

To me, the problem is that this is not a product of the democratic system in Italy. It isn't as if the people called for this government. It is not even the case that an elected parliamentary majority wanted this government. It's a government that certain forces outside of the country wanted and which was thus instituted.It's basically circumventing democracy and I think that is highly dangerous.

[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.

..and you're welcome to do, but it's your subjective individual opinion nothing more. I happen to have the subjective opinion that if something follow the rules, have widely popular support it's rather meaningless to call it undemocratic, and it's not like the Italians doesn't have very precise idea what a technocratic government means, they had one in the nineties, so that it will hurt won't surprise them.

All that is not really the problem. The problem is that a bunch of unelected people step in and puts a government in place because they can bankrupt the country otherwise. It's a behaviour that signals that democracy and the democratic process is a bad thing.