在运转正常的民主社会，政府和反对派之间的选举竞争促使政府采取有效的政策，但在意大利却并非如此，因为这里的选举竞争主要发生在执政联盟的内部。
In a well functioning democracy, electoral competition between government and opposition induces the government to pursue efficient policies. Not so in Italy, where the main site of electoral competition has always been within the governing coalition.