Grumpy Italian voters see little to cheer about

TO most of the outside world, Italy is a land of beautiful landscapes, delicious food, glamorous fashion and Renaissance art treasures.

But Italians voting on Sunday to elect their 62nd government since World War Two used words such as “decline“, “malaise” and “shambles” to describe the state of their country and how they feel about their political leaders.

“Right now, Italy is like a flat tyre,” 79-year-old Renato Riccini said after casting his ballot in an upmarket Rome neighbourhood.