Luca di Montezemolo is a busy man these days. In addition to running Ferrari – and making ill-considered remarks about Bernie Ecclestone – he is in the process of trying to launch a political party to unite Italy’s fragmented political centre, in order to create a platform which would allow current Prime Minister Mario Monti to stay in power after the upcoming elections in April 2013.
Monti became the premier a year ago with support from the major parties after Silvio Berlusconi resigned last year amid economic chaos and scandal. His job was to push through reforms that were needed to save Italy from its massive debts. Not surprisingly, his government of technocrats is not very popular now as a result of harsh austerity measures that were deemed necessary. With the elections just a few months away the political parties have started jostling for position and this week Berlusconi’s Popolo della Libertà (PDL) withheld its support for some of Monti’s measures, which caused the government to wobble.
The centre-right PDL is in a mess, largely because Berlusconi refuses to stop meddling. Some of the party have already split away to start a new grouping and party leader Angelino Alfano is struggling. Berlusconi is making noises about being a candidate again. This is a godsend for the centre left. Last weekend Pier Luigi Bersani won a vote to become the candidate for the Partito Democratico (PD) and he was immediately well ahead in the opinion polls, with 30 percent support.
There is, however, general discontent for the political classes in Italy and this is reflected in the support that exists for former comedian Beppe Grillo, who started a party called the Movimento 5 Stelle” (M5S), which argues that Italy needs new political structures. In the opinion polls this has support of around 20 percent. PDL is now below 15 percent.
In September Montezemolo launched the Italia Futura party, supporting Monti but arguing that Italy needs a new generation of leaders. His longterm strategy, no doubt, would be to take over one day, if the opportunity presented itself. The problem is that the party has struggled to make much of an impression in opinion polls and has below five percent support.
The logic is that Grillo’s supporters will eventually realise that they are wasting their energy and that will give Italia Futura support to become a credible force, which would then become the magnet for centre right voters, who are currently looking for leadership.
It will be interesting to see if he can pull this off.
Luca is enjoying himself at every new job he takes. Then wants to go on the next. You can´t blame a guy for trying (you´re not doing that anyway). I do hope he will become someone like Berlusconi, who seems to think that his word is law. I think the Italian press play a big role in that.
Despite some ill remarks, I´m still fairly positive about the guy (but maybe that goes back to the mid-70s?).
After Mussolini Italy made a constitution that gave the parliament full power and no power at all to the government. Having said this and considering Montezemolo is 65 anyone knowing a bit about Italian politics can predict that by “giving support” from the back scene to a new possible Monti government after next Spring’s elections he’s definitely going nowhere! I am ready to bet my house on it.
It would have made an enourmous difference if Montezemolo were to stand himself for the prime minister’s job. He will therefore have enough time to spend for Ferrari and to make silly declarations to the press. Mostly about his favourite enemy Bernie (some of which are fully deserved).
Luca is a perfect fit as an Italian politician. He has plenty of experience running a large, corrupt, and unethical organization. Bernie has trained him well. Viva Luca !!!
Looking at Formula One figures in that context, Ron Dennis would be a perfect PM for the UK.
Luca must have kept leading pharmaceutical companies happy this year with his consumption of migraine pills. And as Ferrari’s prospects 2013 look no better than 2012, he is set to consume another few dozen pills every quali and race day starting March.
Think I might just fork out for a few shares myself.
As far as I can tell from my old contacts in Italy, no one pays any attention to the government anyway. Only when they are stopped from doing something or forced to pay tax do they even acknowledge it’s existence.
Unfortunately should Luca ever become a political leader, he will face the same problems that Berlusconi discovered; that his experience in running a large business was in fact useless in government. In business the boss has clout, people do what he says, maybe reluctantly, but it gets done. In politics everyone has their own priority, people do not follow orders, particularly Italians, (and now I have to add the British) who know much better than the boss, plus they can feather their own nest in all sort of ways. Berlusconi saw this and could not overcome it, so he gave in and just decided to party instead.
My own solution would be to send Tony Blair over there to be leader. (then at least he would be both occupied and not here)
No on second thoughts, Blair would probably start a civil war. His record in peacekeeping speaks for itself.
apart from Luca being involved why is this f1 news?
Because he runs Ferrari and will not if he wins at politics. It is to help you understand the bigger picture.
thanks
I love the phrase ‘winning at politics’. Rather like a school playground game..
The mental age is rather lower.
Joe, a somewhat pedantic side-track.
I saw Peter Windsor earlier this year express dismay at the now ubiquitous use of the name Luca di Montezemolo. He recalled an earlier time when the Ferrari boss was referred to as simply Luca Montezemolo. He had even questioned Montezemolo about the practice and the man himself said he had no idea why it should have changed either – it wasn’t something he had encouraged nor preferred. Indeed, as it states in his Wikipedia entry – “His surname is actually “Cordero di Montezemolo” and the correct usage is either the full surname or just Montezemolo (omitting the “di”).” Not that Wikipedia is always to be completely trusted, but this entry is referenced and it does back up the rest of the story.
The contrarian in me would love to see order restored, perhaps starting here.
Thanks for raising this small but irritating point, Snowy. Luca’s correct family name is either plain ‘Montezemolo’ or (in full) ‘Cordero di Montezemolo.’ In the Italian press it’s almost always good ol’ plain ‘Luca Montezemolo.’
Now, just try to persuade the English-speaking journos of the error of their ways …