Italy is in desperate need of a saviour

Matteo Renzi lost his constitutional reform referendum – and his job – for a simple reason: too many Italians from across the political spectrum opposed the Florentine and what he represented. What he stood for is easy to see from the names of those who gave him their wholehearted support: Jean-Claude Juncker, Angela Merkel, Mario Draghi, François Hollande, the Financial Times, and, of course, outgoing American President Barack Obama, who made him guest of honour at his last White House state dinner in October and described him as ‘bold’, ‘progressive’ and ‘promising’.

God – perhaps – knows who will be the new Prime Minister of Italy. There have been more than 60 Italian governments since the fall of fascism in 1945. As the editor of Libero, the Milan daily I write for replied when I texted him to ask his opinion late last night: ‘Gesù di Nazareth’.

Beppe Grillo – the comedian and demagogue, who has been convicted of manslaughter – and who preaches direct democracy and whose slogan is ‘Vaffa!’ (‘Fuck Off!’) to most things, including the euro, is the name now on everyone’s lips.