Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, who left politics in 2022, is now moving to Madrid, as the new dean of the IE School of Politics, Economics and Global Affairs.
It has also prepared an ambitious report on the single market, commissioned by the European Commission. He will speak about this and other issues at the World in Progress (WIP), the forum organized by Prisa, EL PAÍS and Cadena SER in Barcelona, which is being held today and tomorrow with intellectuals and international political leaders.
But first he found time to talk to EL PAÍS:
- About the future. “The political system tends to procrastinate difficult decisions, and that means having to spend a lot more money later. […] We lived the example together in Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal in the crisis from 2008 to 2011. The EU, by postponing decisions, then had to spend much more.”
- The role of China and the United States. “Across Europe, from Tallinn to Malaga, people are aware that we are in a dramatic decline, especially those in the economic field. […] With inertia, if we do not act, we run the risk of ending up simply arguing whether we want to be a Chinese or American colony.”
- The political situation in Spain. “I am very concerned about one of the viruses of our democracy, excess polarization.”
- And the role of youth. “I think a big problem in our societies is that they don’t give young people enough space.”
If you want to read the full interview, you can do so here.
