{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/9a03fe9e-1ff0-4dcc-b3f6-50bd1f016ea4/3fdd6334-ff12-4bc1-816b-775fe92720ac?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Supreme Court II & Italy!","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/6195701f2eacc3a36070252a/619570bccb3c660012e3d134.jpg?height=200","description":"<p>A packed episode: we catch up with Catherine Barnard on the Supreme Court's unanimous decision against prorogation and we discuss what's going on in Italian politics.&nbsp;Plus we explore the links and differences between the two, from fears of an election to the role played by presidents and monarchs.&nbsp;Boris, Berlusconi, Baroness Hale and politics on the beach: it's all here!&nbsp;With Lucia Rubinelli and Chris Bickerton.</p><p><br></p><p>Talking Points:</p><p><br></p><p>Is it surprising that the Supreme Court’s judgement was unanimous?</p><ul><li>There’s a strength in unanimity—it also makes it harder to attribute political motives to individual judges.</li><li>This is only the beginning of what could be a series of contentious judgments, but because the decision was unanimous, it’s hard to read the room.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>The Supreme Court didn’t want to get into motive… or monarchy, so it focused on the effect of prorogation.</p><ul><li>If the power to prorogue were unlimited, it could be used for unconstitutional purposes.</li><li>But Parliament did have an opportunity to hold the government to account and it chose not to.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Are there parallels between what’s going on in Italy and the UK?</p><ul><li>The government has broken down, and the opposition is scared of an election. Both Johnson and Salvini are polling at around 30% and facing divided oppositions.</li><li>But in Italy, the opposition has behaved very differently. Despite extreme contempt for each other, Renzi and De Maio are in coalition.</li><li>This is in part because of Mattarella, the President, and the EU.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Does going into coalition with Renzi mark the end of 5 Star’s anti-establishment credentials?&nbsp;</p><ul><li>They might go forward with a new leader, Di Battista, who is more left wing.&nbsp;</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Renzi is trying to position himself as a Macron-like figure.</p><ul><li>The dominant feature of Italian politics is fragmentation: if you can get even 5-10% of the vote, you can be the kingmaker.</li><li>Renzi thinks he can sweep up Berlusconi’s voters.</li><li>But unlike Macron, Renzi isn’t an unknown entity. And the next election might be fought in the midst of a recession.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Further Learning:</p><ul><li><a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Suo15ctkySU\" target=\"_blank\">Our video guide to thinking about the future of Labour leadership</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/09/24/supreme-court-has-given-parliament-real-teeth-verdict-does-not/\" target=\"_blank\">Catherine on the Supreme Court’s decision</a></li><li><a href=\"https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2019/09/matteo-salvini-italy-populist-playbook/597298/\" target=\"_blank\">More on Salvini</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p>Upcoming Events:</p><ul><li>On 5 Oct. David, Helen, and Chris Brooke will be LIVE in London. Tickets <a href=\"https://www.podcastlive.com/event/podcast-live-politics/\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>!</li><li>And on 16 Oct. David and Helen will be LIVE at Cambridge Junction with Ayesha Hazarika. Get your tickets <a href=\"https://www.junction.co.uk/talking-politics-podcast\" target=\"_blank\">here</a>.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>And as ever, recommended reading curated by our friends at the LRB can be found here: </strong><a href=\"http://lrb.co.uk/talking\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>lrb.co.uk/talking</strong></a></p>","author_name":"David Runciman and Catherine Carr"}