Antonio Grulli: Italy's COVID-19 lockdown is a necessary dictatorship

In an opinion piece on Artribune, writer Antonio Grulli argues that Italy's COVID-19 lockdown measures—including curfews, permits, cell phone surveillance, and encouragement of whistleblowing—constitute a dictatorship, albeit a necessary one. He draws parallels to historical dictatorships like Franco's Spain, Mussolini's rise after the 1919 Biennio Rosso, and the Russian Revolution, noting that emergencies often lead to authoritarianism. Grulli warns that once the pandemic ends, politicians may try to prolong their power. He also reflects on the economic sustainability of the lockdown, calling it a 'luxury' enabled by capitalism, and emphasizes the 'inhuman' conditions: inability to work, restricted movement, separation from dying loved ones, and the absurdity of changing permits. He concludes that while these measures are necessary, society must remain vigilant about where to draw the line.