ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with some of the changes produced by the appearance in the Italian political system of a quasi-majority of sovereignists, its meaning and its consequences. The story of Italy’s involvement in European affairs is marked by significant accomplishments, but also by serious shortcomings as well as by potential changes. There is no doubt that, in the past, the most pro-European parties in Italy were those located in the centre of the political alignment: the Christian Democrats and the other centrist parties, especially the Republicans, the Liberals and the Social Democrats. The European flag, so to speak, has remained in the hands of the former Christian Democrats, more with those who merged with the former Communists to give birth to the Democratic Party than with those siding with the centre-right. Among Italian citizens and policymakers, there is general agreement that Italy ought to try to get a better deal from Europe.
