Italians "trust police more than gov't: think tank

ROME, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Italian citizens trust law enforcement more than government, a new report by the Institute for Political, Social and Economic Studies (EURISPES) said Tuesday.

A whopping 34.3 percent of respondents said they have no trust in government, parliament, and other institutions -- down from 42.8 percent in 2017, according to EURISPES' "Italy 2018" report.

Those saying they trust institutions rose from 2.4 percent in 2015 to 7.7 percent in 2017 to 13 percent this year, the think tank also pointed out.

At the same time, wide majorities voiced approval of firefighters (86.6 percent), the Civil Protection Department (76.3 percent), the Army (70.4 percent), Carabinieri military police (69.4 percent), Finance police (68.5 percent), State police (66.7 percent), and intelligence services (65.4 percent).

As well, large majorities disapproved of government in terms of balancing the budget (81.3 percent), cutting taxes (80.6 percent), fighting unemployment (80 percent), and managing immigration (76 percent).

On the plus side, 50 percent said government successfully defended Italy from international terrorism, 45.2 percent approved of the way it promoted Made-in-Italy products abroad, 44.1 percent said it did a good job in fighting the mafia, and 41.7 percent liked how it upheld Italy's image in the world at large.

"The country is confused and divided on the political level," commented EURISPES President Gian Maria Fara. "It is wavering between conservation and change, a desire for stability and populist drives, between reasonableness and nihilism."

He defined these two opposing forces as the "ethic of responsibility", based on realistic thinking and democratic methods, versus the "ethic of conviction".

These two paradigms are vying for the hearts and minds of Italians ahead of the next national election on March 4, Fara said. Enditem