Italian Election: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) - Summary

Summary

The conversation discusses Italy's upcoming election, its political climate, and several key figures involved. The speaker mentions that Italy is holding an election to select a new Parliament and Prime Minister. The speaker also notes that Italy's political history is rich, with the country holding its 65th government in over 70 years.

The speaker criticizes the current political climate in Italy, stating that it's toxic and seeing a rise in political violence. The speaker mentions instances of political-motivated stabbings and beatings in Italian cities and the high level of anti-immigrant sentiments due to the influx of over 600,000 migrants in the last four years.

The speaker discusses several key figures in the election, including former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who is attempting a comeback despite facing anti-establishment sentiment. The speaker also mentions Luigi DeMaio, a young candidate for the 5-star movement.

The speaker criticizes Matteo Salvini, a far-right party leader, for his hardline stance on immigration and skepticism towards vaccinations. The speaker also mentions Silvio Berlusconi's potential return to politics, despite his conviction for tax fraud and his questionable personal behavior.

Finally, the speaker jokes about the possibility of a non-Italian citizen being elected as the Prime Minister of Italy, given that the Italian Constitution does not explicitly state that non-citizens cannot run for the position. The speaker ends by expressing hope for a better leader to come forward in Italy.

Facts

Here are the key facts extracted from the text:

1. Italy is holding an election next Sunday to select a new Parliament and eventually a new Prime Minister.
2. Italy is seeing a rise in political violence, fake news, and anti-immigrant sentiments.
3. Italy's public debt is 130% of GDP and its unemployment is high.
4. The key figures in the election are Matteo Renzi, a centrist former Prime Minister; Luigi DeMaio, a 31-year-old leader of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement; Matteo Salvini, a far-right leader of the League who has been accused of fascism; and Silvio Berlusconi, a controversial billionaire and former Prime Minister who is banned from public office until 2019 but could still influence the outcome of the election.
5. John Oliver, a comedian and host of Last Week Tonight, jokingly announced his candidacy for Prime Minister of Italy, claiming that there is no explicit provision in the Italian Constitution that prevents non-citizens from running.

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