Tangentopoli is not over. Mafias and corruption are phenomena that seem to be rooted in “common sense”, with the tendency to consider these criminal phenomena a “national pathology”. Six out of ten citizens surveyed believe that nothing has changed since 1992. 22% of respondents think corruption has increased even more. 78% of the Italians interviewed believe that corruption in politics is the mirror of society. 85% recognize the fundamental role of white-collar workers and professionals in the link with the mafias. These are the first results that emerge from a research by Demos-Libera on the perception of corruption and mafias. The full report will be presented in the coming weeks.
According to a considerable part of citizens, mafia violence appears limited today compared to the past (42%). The adoption of a less bloody strategy makes the mafia less newsworthy, therefore camouflaged in the public eye. And being less visible it doesn’t appear as ferocious. Working in the shadows, a different mafia logic emerges, more centered on the connection with the world of professionals and white-collar workers. 85% of the interviewees recognize the fundamental role of white-collar workers and professionals in the link with the mafias. The public face of the Mafia phenomenon is taking on a different profile. Moreover, the skills and strategic positions of these figures in the dynamics of the market and financial exchanges, even within a global and not just national horizon, are today fundamental for the interests of the mafia. In this context, the pandemic emergency ended up representing a window of opportunity for these organizations. At the time of Covid-19, the idea that corruption in Italy is spreading further shows, in the opinions of the interviewees, a rather large figure: 67%. A similar portion (65%) believe the mafia is increasing its power thanks to the Coronavirus.
78% of Italians believe that corruption in politics is the mirror of society. And therefore difficult to eradicate. Thus, the intertwining of politics and corruption is strongly rooted in the perspectives of citizens. It is taken for granted by the Italians. Only 10% believe that corruption is less tied to politics today than in the past. Six out of ten (58%) believe that, like in the past, corruption and politics are connected. Corruption is perceived as an evil for the common good: for 77% of respondents it had a negative impact by reducing the efficiency of public health in dealing with the Coronavirus. Therefore, corruption seems to be an endemic and latent phenomenon for Italians. So much so that those who believe it decreased compared to the time of Tangentopoli are 16%. And 22% think it is even more widespread. The vast majority (60%) believe that nothing has changed since 1992.
“The mafia that kills or practices forms of direct violence is, today, residual: the ‘entrepreneurial’ one that makes money with money, which uses money to bribe and open up the streets, possibly using threat and intimidation, prevails. risk – comments Luigi Ciotti, national president of Libera – that the ‘low profile’ strategy, in the shadows, leads one to think that it no longer exists. of the so-called free market, free but subject to the rules of the strongest. Today the big problem is the connivance between the capitalist system and the criminal system. care and promotion of the common good “.
In the note it is defined as “worrying that in the Demos-Libera research the lack of knowledge of the PNRR is evident”. Seven out of ten respondents (71%) say they have “no” or “little knowledge” of it. An instrument believed to be salvific but unknown. 47% of the interviewees declared themselves “alarmed” about the possibility of mafia infiltration and believe that the risk is particularly high, given the emergency procedures envisaged in the use of European funds. 40%, on the other hand, show a “resigned” attitude, taking the risk for granted, similar to that of all public investments.
Only 12%, one in ten, respond with “optimism” that, thanks to the particular rules put in place, the criminal risk is lower than usual.
Source: Ansa
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