The Lega Nord and fiscal federalism: functional or postfunctional?

Abstract

This paper addresses the question of whether the Italian Lega Nord pursues functional policies in spite of its postfunctional rhetoric (politics of simulation) or pre-material policies that are in line with its dominant postfunctional discourse (politics of identity). The analysis focuses on fiscal federalism because this is an area that links together both economic issues – fiscal autonomy is seen as highly functional to the economy of those regions of Italy which form the Lega Nord's strongholds – and identity matters – federalism is claimed and justified on the basis of the existence of a distinct territorial community with its own cultural values and social cohesion. The paper concludes that the Lega combines postfunctional rhetoric and ‘formal’ policies on the one hand, with functional ‘actual’ outcomes on the other. This combination, which hitherto appeared to be a winning electoral formula, has recently run into difficulties.

Keywords:

• Lega Nord
• fiscal federalism
• simulative politics
• identity politics
• political populism

Notes

1. Since completing this article, local administrative elections, held in May 2011, have shown a loss of votes for the Lega Nord even in its traditional strongholds, accompanied by growing dissatisfaction among activists and members regarding its role in government. Following this electoral setback, early signs have indicated that the party has opted to step up its political rhetoric, demanding the immediate transfer of two Ministries from Rome to the North: the Ministry of Reforms and the Ministry of Legislative Simplification, currently held by Lega Nord leaders Bossi and Roberto Calderoli. Given that these are Ministries without Portfolio, their transfer would be primarily a symbolic act. It remains to be seen whether the party proves able to placate grassroots anger or indeed to attract votes by intensifying its simulative game, since election results have already signalled that part of the electorate has grown tired of playing it.