Articles by Tim Hedges

Tim Hedges had a career in corporate finance before moving to Rome where he works as a freelance writer, novelist, and farmer

EU boss Ursula von der Leyen's imperial ambitions

There are many illustrations of the EU's neo-authoritarian, neo-imperial ambitions. Italy provides lots of them. The incoming EU president Ursula von der Leyen promises to make a bad and shabby situation even worse
by Tim Hedges - 3 October 2019
China getting a rise out of reckless Italy?

Italy's populist government may become the first in Europe to endorse China's Belt and Road Initiative. The Western establishment from Washington to Brussels is apoplectic, and on this one, they are right to be
by Tim Hedges - 22 March 2019
Proportional representation flatters to deceive

Proportional representation is a seductive alternative to the pitfalls of first past the post. But PR's flaws probably outweigh its benefits, as the cases of Germany and Italy can illustrate
by Tim Hedges - 28 February 2019
EU heads deeper into crisis over Italy and France

In a certain sense Brexit was never the real issue for the European Union. The real issue is that it is a failing superstate, mired in hypocrisy and self-delusion
by Tim Hedges - 12 February 2019
Europe's house of cards shudders ahead of elections

Germany's economy is slowing sharply, Italy may already be in recession, populists are about to surge at the European elections. There's chaos in Britain to be sure, but the whole European house of cards is slowly but surely falling down
by Tim Hedges - 28 January 2019
The Euro's unhappy birthday

The Eurozone's unhappy birthday is a reminder that poilitical projects pursued by ideological fanatics cause misery for ordinary people. But don't expect Brussels to learn from its mistake. Just expect more misery to come
by Tim Hedges - 8 January 2019
Adventures in Europe: Italy rails, as France wails

Italy's populists are enraged at the double standards from the powers that be in Europe. France appears to get a free pass, while Italy gets a telling off over its budget deficits. Brexiting from all this may not be quite so bad, non?
by Tim Hedges - 18 December 2018
Italy shows May how to stand up to Brussels

It seems hard to imagine, but the biggest headache for Brussels at the moment is not the independently minded, powerful British but the normally passive Italians. Theresa May's strategy was simply to avoid rocking the EU's boat, and the Brussels bureaucrats have obliged by taking her for a ride
by Tim Hedges - 21 November 2018
Italy's fight with EU bullies is part of Euro disaster story

The logic of EU federalist insanity continues to play its part in the downfall of European democracy. Italy's ugly fight with Brussels bullies over the budget is just the latest chapter. Thank goodness for Brexit!
by Tim Hedges - 31 October 2018
Italy's migration dilemma

It must be realised that Italy is not the UK or Germany which have had migration since the 1960s. In Italy’s case the problem has been emigration, and mass immigration is quite new to them. Between political correctness and plummeting birth rates, quite a debate is raging
by Tim Hedges - 17 October 2018
Budgeting for populism amid EU hypocrisy

Brussels, you may recall, already vetoed Italy's first choice as finance minister -- a eurosceptic whose views were regarded as heretical. As the finance minister that Italy had to concede to Brussels calculates this year's budget, the Eurocrats are already up in arms. Does national democracy count for nothing?
by Tim Hedges - 5 October 2018
State of Disunion: Thank goodness for Brexit

EU State of the Union addresses are meant to mimic America's, but they are a sick joke for many "ordinary" Europeans. Commission President Juncker would not know the feelings of a European citizen if he ran over one in his chauffeur driven Mercedes. Thank goodness for Brexit
by Tim Hedges - 21 September 2018
Sex and the Vatican

Sex. It’s all about sex, the Roman Catholic Church. Who hasn’t thought that? Pope Francis’s church needs to return, as Christ did, to talking about the poor, lest this becomes an obsession
by Tim Hedges - 7 September 2018
Italy's populist government rides high in the polls

The people of Italy believe, not without some justification, that their country has been ruined by a caste of people which has feathered its own nest. What the oddball combination of Di Maio and Salvini has done is to understand this discontent and to channel it. Unless the mainstream in Europe engages in radical self-reflection and reform, the populists will continue to have the ear of the people
by Tim Hedges - 31 August 2018
Italy's telling bridge

The Italian bridge collapse is a tragedy and a political hot potato. How will the populist government handle it?
by Tim Hedges - 20 August 2018