EU being hammered by debt ravaged member country

[NigelJK]

However this is something that's never occurred in Italy or Greece.

Both long term Socialist states. As is France.

[LondonManc]

This is what will happen. Italy will at some point down the line sell state assets to pay off the debt. Mark my words. Just as Greece has being doing. This is something the Tories have been doing for years without so much as a raised eyebrow from the public. The UK has sold off railway lines, NHS trusts, you name if the Tories could flog their granny they would. However this is something that's never occurred in Italy or Greece.

2nd point.... look at how much Gold Italy has. It would make the UK blush. And watch the price of that gold when the stock markets go. Italy is about to be delivered a silver (gold?) bullet and they've no idea.

Yep, thank Gordon Brown for that - selling gold for Euros. What a guy!!!

[scooterscot]

Both long term Socialist states. As is France.

Italy & Greece have right wing governments don't they? How is that socialist?

[NigelJK]

Italian politics

The main event in the First Republic in the 1960s was the inclusion of the Socialist party in the government after the reducing edge of the Christian Democracy (DC) had forced them to accept this alliance; attempts to incorporate the Italian Social Movement (MSI), a right party, in the Tambroni government led to riots and were short-lived.

Aldo Moro, a relatively left-leaning Christian Democrat, inspired this alliance. He would later try to include the Communist Party as well with a deal called the "historic compromise". However, this attempt at compromise was stopped by the kidnapping and murder of Moro in 1978 by the Red Brigades, an extremist left-wing terrorist organization.

The Communist Party was at this point the largest communist party in Western Europe and remained such for the rest of its existence. Their ability to attract members was largely due to their pragmatic stance, especially their rejection of extremism and to their growing independence from Moscow (see Eurocommunism). The Italian communist party was especially strong in areas like Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany, where communists had been elected to stable government positions. This practical political experience may have contributed to their taking a more pragmatic approach to politics.

[WTFH]

Italy & Greece have right wing governments don't they? How is that socialist?

Because at some stage in the past they had socialist governments, they are therefore always seen as socialist to some, no matter who is running them, or for how long.

[scooterscot]

Italian politics

When comparisons between socialism and communism are taken to be the same, I throw in the towel.

[NigelJK]

It takes decades to unpick the crap after a left wing regime, but some think that's how it should be.

[LondonManc]

When comparisons between socialism and communism are taken to be the same, I throw in the towel.

Clearly lost touch with the UK Labour Party too.