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.
 Emblematic
is the recent case of young newly-weds, resident in Venezuela, who were
unable to get their registry office marriage certificate. In fact the deed
had been sent by the local consulate to the spouses' home municipality
but there was no verification of prior residence found there, so all of
the papers were sent to the Commune at the capital, as required by Law.
A friend of the couple took on the responsibility of “doing the rounds”
of the Capitoline offices and was only able to solve the mystery after
a long pilgrimage: the deed was among the thousands of foreign papers stockpiled
at the Roman municipality.
The 500 thousand lacking a homeland could not vote even though Parliament, in a patriotic flurry, granted them postal voting rights after the summer shambles of the failure to pass the Constitutional Bill which, if it had been adopted, would have put right an old injustice. The fact is, an overhaul of the registration of Italians resident abroad (RIRE) appears to be indespensable and urgent, as is a reform of the consulates. In the last European elections, RIRE had its inefficiency demonstrated in that the voting slips that reached their destinations amounted to just over 25% of the rightful claimants. One joke after another. For the consulates, it's another kind of problem. There is in fact a clear dyscrasia in the distribution of consular offices. There are the same number of agents in Switzerland, for example, as there are in the whole of Latin America. It would be superfluous to point out the inconveniences that Italians in Brazil have to endure when thay are forced to travel hundreds and hundreds of kilometers just to fulfil a consular requirement. It might seem logical if, after many years, a remedy to such problems were to be urgently put forward. Undersecretary Fassino (PDS party) who, as well as being in charge of overseas nationals, looks after European community matters, appears to attach more importance to the latter. Indeed, he has suggested the abolition of the Department of Italians in the World which is headed by the Prime Minister. As regards top appointments, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dini recently asked for and got the transfer of the highly regarded Department Chief, Ambassador Pietromarchi, who will assume other responsibilities from the first of October. This isn't the first step towards the annexation of the structure to the foreign ministry, instigated by Dini as part of the Farnesina reforms. Previous moves to eliminate the Dept. had failed because of its demonstrated efficiency. The diplomatic Pietromarchi was a point of reference for our co-nationals and his programs included an accord with the Vatican to assist them in any visits to Italy for the Jubilee celebrations. The Dept's real problem was of being de fatto independent of the Ministry and therefore of Undersecretary Fassino's control. All told, it might be better to deal with all the problems involving our estranged fellow-countrymen and women and not to continue being exclusively concerned with the inflow of extra-EU immigrants. As for reforms, that of the RIRE would be more useful, at the same time passing a Bill allowing our co-nationals abroad to vote. The Roman Commune, then, has quite a problem dealing with these 500,000 cases. What lead will Mayor Rutelli give? Will the papers remain stockpiled for years? It is absurd to think that so many Italians are waiting to be regarded as such, i.e. citizens of a civilized state.
I was not exaggerating about her being the prettiest mayor, because she was once Miss Venezuela and even, in 1981, Miss Universe! But there is another detail that enthuses the large Italian colony there,- Sàez Conde is of Italian extraction. Her grandmother, Guilia Lovato arrived in Venezuela at the end of the 1800s, so "la bella alcade" has Italian blood in her veins. Vitaliano Vita, leader of the Italians abroad and in our Venezuelan community, comments: “Irene represents the will for reform, for change, but with security. This is why she has the support of Catholics, moderates and those progressivists who do not want a leap into the unknown and who fear the heavy systems and isolation of nationalism…. The refined Irene is opposed by the rough-cut Chavez, the soldier who led the coup some years back and is now putting himself forward as the man of innovation and of Providence.” Irene was re-elected as Mayor of Chacao (the Italian quarter of Caracas) in 1995 with 96% of the votes, a ringing endorsement of her extremely positive running of public affairs, really in the citizen's interest. Even her adversaries have to admit to her simple and courteous way of getting things done, her resoluteness in the face of the many problems in a populous community. The only criticism: she is too young. Her supporters reply that she has in fact a lot of experience, also internationally, and they point to the conferences, negotiations and high-level meetings she has taken part in. The fact is that Irene Sàez Conde has acceeded the hopes of even the young people (50% of Venezuela's population is under 30 years old). And the many Italians who became citizens there hope to see this beautiful lady with Italian blood become President of their new homeland. |
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