It's no secret that the Bolognese, "the red," lean towards the left on the political spectrum. In fact, all of Emilia-Romagna, the province in which Bologna resides, is fairly liberal. In contrast to Rome, one would be hard-pressed to find a political conservative in the city. Though the "Partito Democratico" functions under the name of the democratic party, Americans may quickly discover that this party does not resemble the Democratic National Committee of the United States. While the group as a whole acknowledges exclusively democratic principles, the ideas of a significant number of its members align more closely with communism. The party regularly organizes "public gatherings," in which Bologna residents may congregate and share in their similar negative views of the current political system in Italy. These "gatherings" usually include a guest speaker, such as a political science or law professor from the university, a similar political group, or a live band.
Other evidence of Bologna's current political climate may be easily found on the graffiti that seemingly spans every wall of every building. Italians are a straightforward bunch; it is common to see a handful of extremist political messages scrawled on buildings on a walk to or from class. These writings have simply become a part of the scenery, because as soon as a wall is repainted, it is tagged within days.
For more information about the Partito Democratico, click here.
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